MOCA manages civic spaces inside Honolulu Hale such as the courtyard and Lane Gallery. These spaces are used to showcase the talents of visual artists and showcase the work of non-profit organizations and schools from our diverse community.  Partnerships with community organizations have enabled MOCA to grace the halls of City buildings with a wide range of artwork displayed on a monthly basis. All exhibits are free and open to the public.  

To be eligible for our Community Exhibitions Program, applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Practicing artist(s) working in collaboration with a local organization, non-profit, or school group, etc.

• Non-profit organization

• A school or university group

• An historical group

• An arts organization or arts community group

Applications will be assessed by the Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts (MOCA) by the following set of criteria:

• Connection to community

• Clarity of theme or concept of the exhibition or project

• Appropriateness of the exhibition or project to the space and available resources

• Innovation, excellence or diversity represented in artistic practice

Exhibition guidelines:

• All works must be hang ready* with hanging mechanisms or object mounts as appropriate.  All two-dimensional works may be hung in the Lane Gallery or Honolulu Courtyard walls.  

• Three-dimensional works may be displayed pedestals (provided by the City) or in cabinets (subject to availability), to be discussed with and approved by the MOCA. 

• Exhibitors must provide MOCA with a list of works (title, materials and dimensions) and images four weeks prior to the exhibition.

• The MOCA staff have the right to omit works deemed inappropriate, unsafe or unfinished.

• All artworks must be installed by the artists and groups, with the assistance of MOCA staff.

• The City and County of Honolulu will not be liable for any loss or damage to all exhibit material. 

*What is Hang Ready? All artwork MUST be HANG READY to participate in the exhibition. Hang Ready means the artwork is fitted with an appropriate apparatus to hang/be installed in the gallery (ie, if it is a painting, it has a cleat/wire/hook on the back; if it is a drawing/photo/other flat artwork, it is framed and the frame has a cleat/hook/wire/etc. to hang it from; if it needs a specialized stand, it has it; you do not need to provide a floor pedestal for sculpture).

To submit a proposal please fill out an application. Please contact moca-info@honolulu.gov for more information or call 808-768-6622.