A. Introduction

Maui Public Art Corps is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization founded in 2020 to connect people, place and story through the development of exceptional public art. Created in response to our successful 2018 SMALL TOWN * BIG ART pilot in partnership with the County of Maui + Hale Hō‘ike‘ike at the Bailey House/ Maui Historical Society, our work extends these Wailuku-based activities to a countywide movement.

We are currently seeking artist proposals that interpret stories from our Hui Mo‘olelo program as works of visual, performance or experiential public art. To create an efficient panel selection process, applicants are asked to base their proposals off of the excerpts listed at Hui Mo‘olelo, yet upon invitation to join may choose any part of the full recording for the final project. 

​Upon selection by a community panel, artists will be paired with community consultants to integrate feedback into the initial proposal; actively shaping the resulting artwork into a site-specific, collaborative piece. This project development period also includes a process of identifying a unique proverb from Mary Kawena Pukui’s ‘Ōlelo No‘eau: Hawaiian Proverbs and Poetical Sayings with our cultural consultant, Kumu Sissy Lake-Farm. Connecting the works with a specific proverb helps to provide historical and cultural significance of the specific Maui County installation site. 

B. Project Descriptions

Please view photos and additional details at https://www.mauipublicart.org/apply.html

Application Requirements

​Applications will only be received via CaFÉ and will not be accepted after the marked deadline. Applicants may apply as a single artist or multi-person collaborative group. Multiple applications may be submitted if applying to more than one opportunity (B1-B6). Please carefully review the application requirements before beginning the online application process, as incomplete applications will not be considered. If you are uploading .pdf documents, they must measure 8.5" x 11"

1. ​Opportunity (choose which of the projects above you are applying for, B1 through B6).
2. Inspired by Storytellers (enter the Hui Mo‘olelo pairing that will inspire your artwork, e.g. Kevin and Kukui Gavagan)
3. Artist/s Bio (approximately 250 words)
4. Artist/s Résumé​ (Submit a one to two page current résumé that highlights your professional accomplishments as an artist or artist group. Please highlight experience in creating communal or public art and two references. If attachments exceed 2 pages, only the first 2 pages will be seen by panelists).
5. Statement of Interest (Please submit a statement briefly explaining your interest in our mission, your design approach and your experience working with diverse stakeholders)
6. Project Description (Explain how the Hui Mo‘olelo excerpt you selected will inform your project. You may select a proverb from ʻŌlelo Noʻeau: Hawaiian Proverbs & Poetical Sayings by Mary Kawena Pukui to help ground your project, or, one will be selected with you during the project development stage. Explain how your project ties into the community. Include examples or opportunities for broad community engagement that specifically pertain to your proposed project, e.g. a hands-on workshop, panel discussion, open rehearsal, classroom activity, or other ideas).
7. Project Budget (Include all costs associated with the project including, but not limited to: insurance, tools, materials, rentals, installation, travel, assistance, ground transportation, site modification and any other costs). Each project's budget request may vary depending on the project's specific needs. The request must be in increments of $100. Multiple project budgets may be submitted as "Option A" . "Option B", etc.
8. Work Samples
9. Concept Design (for visual work)
10. Notes (optional)

Eligibility Criteria

All artists 18 years and older are invited to apply

1. Selected Artists and/or Artist Teams will be required to provide a W-9 to Lokahi Pacific (our fiscal sponsor for this project)
2. Selected Artists and/or Artist Teams will engage in a period of project development to determine opportunities for community involvement, identify/ confirm an ʻōlelo noʻeau (traditional Hawaiian proverbs and poetical sayings), and to clearly identify inputs, activities, outputs and outcomes.
3. The Artist and/or Artist Team will be responsible for all costs (including site visits where needed) incurred in preparing or responding to this RFP. All materials and documents submitted in response to the solicitation become the property of Maui Public Art Corps and the County of Maui, and will not be returned.
4. The Artist and/or Artist Team will be required to provide all tools, equipment, insurance, technology, knowledge and labor necessary to successfully execute the proposed project.
5. Final art will be created after artist selection confirmed.
6. All projects will be professionally documented. Maui Public Art Corps shall retain ownership of the video/ photo documentation and may choose to promote or display the work publicly, at a later date.
7. No actual or potential conflict shall exist between Artist and/or Artist Team and the Artist and/or Artist Team’s family, business, or financial interests for the proposed services in this RFP.
8. The Artist and/or Artist Team shall not be in a reporting relationship to a County of Maui employee who is a near relative, nor shall the near relative be in a decision-making position with respect to the Artist and/or Artist Team.