FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                      June 22, 2007

Release No. M-66-07

NATIONAL ARTS PROGRAM ANNUAL EXHIBIT

AT HONOLULU HALE

Artwork created by City employees and their family members will be on display June 25 to July 12 at City Hall.  The exhibit is being co-sponsored by The National Arts Program® in Honolulu and the Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts.

Beginning April 2, the two organizations invited City employees and their families to express their artistic talents by submitting works for public exhibit.  Between that announcement and a May 31 deadline, more than 100 works of art were registered for display.

City employees produced a wide variety of original paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures, and crafts.  All will be displayed and judged by professional arts practitioners in four categories:  amateur, intermediate, professional, and youth.  Mayor Mufi Hannemann will announce the winning artists at a reception at Honolulu Hale on June 28, at 6:30 p.m.

“The National Arts Program® in Honolulu is an excellent opportunity to bring out the artist in us all,” said Mayor Hannemann. “This art exhibit is just one of the many ways the City is reaching out to foster the creative talents of the people of Honolulu.  Thank you to all who took the time to create and share their works for our enjoyment.”

            The program was established in 1983 by The National Arts Program Foundation to identify the artistic talents of our nation.  The National Arts Program sponsors 78 annual programs, in more than 400 cities and counties in 43 states and the District of Columbia, involving employees and family members of municipal and county governments and businesses.  According to the foundation, “It is intended to provide an uninhibited opportunity for all people to present their talents, at any level, in a public exhibition, free to artists and the public.”

Exhibit hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.  The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 523-4674 or visit www.honolulu.gov/moca.

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Contact:

Tory Laitila, 523-4105

Dymian Racoma, 527-5288