Open Call for Artists: EHCC Gallery Exhibition 2026 - 36 Views of Mauna Loa

The East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center is pleased to announce an open call for artists residing in the State of Hawaiʻi for 36 Views of Mauna Loa, an exhibition that invites a deep exploration of the cultural, ecological, and emotional significance of Mauna Loa. This exhibition, which will run in two installments between April and July 2026, seeks to showcase 36 artists—18 invited and 18 selected from this open call—who can offer profound perspectives on the ways Mauna Loa impacts society and shapes our relationship with the land.

Exhibition Description:
Inspired by Hokusai's renowned 36 Views of Mount Fuji—a series not actually about Mount Fuji, but about the essence of Japan—this exhibition goes beyond simple imagery to delve into the powerful meanings that Mauna Loa embodies. Mauna Loa is more than a geological landmark; it is a symbol of destruction and renewal, tradition and change. The exhibition invites artists to interpret these themes through various forms, including painting, sculpture, video, photography, and installation.

Through this diverse array of mediums, 36 Views of Mauna Loa fosters a conversation around the volcano as a metaphor for resilience, ecological balance, identity, and the unique connection between land and community. We are looking for works that reflect on how Mauna Loa influences both the landscape and the lives of those who dwell in its presence—capturing its profound significance beyond mere visual representation.

Artists interested in participating should submit their applications, including artwork and supporting materials, by the specified deadline. Please visit the EHCC website for detailed submission guidelines, eligibility criteria, and instructions. Incomplete submissions will not be considered.

Join us in this exploration of Mauna Loa’s deeper meanings and contribute your perspective to a collective reflection on the powerful role of this volcano in our lives. For more information and to submit your work (starting January 2026), please visit our website at ehcc.org/opencall/36views or contact us at [email protected].

Submission Guidelines:

• Eligibility: Open to artists living in State of Hawaii.

• Artwork Types: We welcome 2-dimensional, 3-dimensional, photography, mix media, and video artworks.

• Number of Works: Each artist may submit one (1) artwork or a cohesive body of work considered as a single artwork.

• Selection Process: A panel of three jurors will review submissions and select the 18 artists who will participate through this open call.

How to Apply:

CALL FOR ENTRY PLATFORM TO BE ANNOUNCED. You will be required to create an account for submission.

• Digital submission open: January 1- 31. 2026

• First round selection based on the digital submission: February 15. 2026

(Quality of the images representing the artwork should be exceptional for jurying) Images of the artwork no larger then 10MB each, format JPEG.

• Accepted artists, based on curatorial approach, will be contacted by March 1. 2026, and informed by EHCC what part of exhibition they will participate in.

• PART 1: Opening reception on April 3 at 6 pm. Exhibition on view April 4 - May 29. 2026

or

• PART 2: Opening reception on June 5 at 6 pm. Exhibition on view June 6 - July 31. 2026

Accepted artworks drop-off:

• Big Island artists are responsible for delivery artwork one week before the opening of the exhibition:

  PART 1 : Saturday, March 28, 2026 10 am-2 pm.

  PART 2: Saturday, May 30, 2026 10 am-2 pm.

• Artists from the neighbor islands are required to cover the shipping costs to East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center (EHCC) to be delivered by the dates above. EHCC will cover the costs of return shipping. Packaging will be reused for returns and must be of a professional quality.

• Accepted work must be ready for installation.

All Artwork to be returned once exhibitions end.

Shipping Address:
East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center
141 Kalakaua St.
Hilo, Hawaii 96720

Required files should be included to submission:

• Title, Medium, Year, Price (if for sale). EHCC commission is 40% with artist at 60% of the sale price.

• Up to 1 page artists’ statement about the submitted artwork.

• CV (maximum 2 pages)

• Narrative biography (maximum 1 page)