Hawai‘i Contemporary

What Hawai‘i Contemporary does

Hawai'i Contemporary is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit visual arts organization headquartered in Honolulu, Hawai'i (legally the Honolulu Biennial Foundation), founded in 2015. It operates as the only visual arts organization in Hawai'i dedicated to presenting global and local contemporary art, producing the Hawai'i Triennial — the state's largest periodic contemporary art exhibition held every three years — alongside the Art Summit precursor event and year-round public programs. The fourth triennial iteration (HT25, theme 'ALOHA NŌ') launched in February 2025 across 14 exhibition sites on three Hawaiian islands (O'ahu, Maui, Hawai'i Island), featuring 49 artists and art collectives over a 78-day run.

The organization's product surface spans the core Hawai'i Triennial exhibitions, the Art Summit convening, free Public Programs (Professional Development Program for Artists, Art in Conversation series, Artists in Schools), the annual Golden Hibiscus Award ($10,000 cash prize), and a digital layer built on the Bloomberg Connects app — a dynamic guide covering all HT25 artists and venues. Since inception, Hawai'i Contemporary has commissioned work by 169+ artists and art collectives and welcomed over 300,000 combined visitors across iterations. The technology stack is light: the Bloomberg Connects integration handles digital curation/wayfinding, and donation processing runs through Network for Good.

Revenue mechanics are entirely philanthropic: donations (100% tax-deductible), multi-tiered corporate sponsorships (title, curator's circle, distinguished, benefactors, patrons), and grants from foundations including the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts (Spring 2021 grantee) and the National Endowment for the Arts. There are no ticket sales or commercial products — all exhibitions and programs are free to attend. The organization is staffed by a small team (1–10 employees) and governed by a board chaired by Patricia Chang Moad, with Executive Director Rosina Potter leading operations since September 2022.

Name

Hawai‘i Contemporary

Legal name

Honolulu Biennial Foundation, dba Hawai'i Contemporary

Website

https://hawaiicontemporary.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hawai'i Contemporary is a Honolulu-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that organizes the Hawai'i Triennial — the state's largest periodic contemporary art exhibition — alongside year-round public programs, serving local communities, international visitors, partner cultural institutions, and artists from the Pacific and beyond.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Relies upon community collaborations and generosity of individuals; donations support triennial exhibition, artists, Art Summit, and year-round public programming. Accepts one-time and recurring donations. All donations are 100% tax deductible through 501(c)(3) status.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Various sponsorship tiers including title sponsors, curator's circle, distinguished sponsors, benefactors, and patrons for exhibitions and events.
3. Grant Funding: Received grants from organizations including Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts (Spring 2021 grantee) and National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hawai'i Contemporary is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that organizes the Hawai'i Triennial, a periodic thematic exhibition of contemporary art held every three years across multiple Hawaiian islands (O'ahu, Maui, and Hawai'i Island). The organization also produces the Art Summit (a triennial precursor convening), year-round free public programming including artist talks, tours, and a Professional Development Program for Artists, plus an annual Golden Hibiscus Award recognizing Pacific artists with a $10,000 cash prize. Companion digital guides are provided via the Bloomberg Connects platform and downloadable PDF guidebooks.

Product overview

Hawai'i Contemporary is a nonprofit visual arts organization based in Honolulu that connects Hawai'i and the Pacific through contemporary art. Its core offerings consist of the Hawai'i Triennial (held every three years), Art Summit (a triennial precursor event), and year-round Public Programs. The organization also provides digital tools including the HT25 Guidebook (PDF) and HT25 Digital Guide via Bloomberg Connects app. The Hawai'i Triennial is the state's largest periodic contemporary art exhibition, spanning multiple venues across Hawaiian islands, while the companion digital guide provides interactive navigation and artist insights. The Golden Hibiscus Award recognizes outstanding triennial artists with cash prizes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hawai'i Triennial: The state's largest, thematic exhibition of contemporary art from Hawai'i, the Pacific, and beyond, held every three years.
• Art Summit
• Golden Hibiscus Award

Products and services

• Hawai'i Triennial The state's largest periodic thematic exhibition of contemporary art from Hawai'i, the Pacific, and beyond, held every three years across multiple venues on O'ahu, Maui, and Hawai'i Island. Curated by international curators and featuring dozens of artists. Free admission for the public.
• Art Summit A thematic precursor event to the Hawai'i Triennial that brings together artists, curators, and thinkers from Hawai'i and the Pacific for dialogues around contemporary art and ideas. Held on a triennial cycle.
• Public Programs Year-round free public programming including lunchtime tours, artist talks, workshops, family programs, an Art in Conversation series, and a Professional Development Program for Artists. Focused on expanding thinking around contemporary art practices.
• HT25 Digital Guide (Bloomberg Connects) A free digital guide available through the Bloomberg Connects app and web, featuring 49 artists and art collectives, 14 sites of exhibition across 3 Hawaiian islands, insights on the HT25 theme 'ALOHA NŌ', and information on free public programming.
• HT25 Guidebook A downloadable PDF navigation guide and printed companion to the Hawai'i Triennial 2025 exhibition, providing information about venues, artists, and exhibition locations.
• Golden Hibiscus Award

Quantifiable outcome

• 200,000+ combined attendance across 2017 and 2019 biennials
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core, flagship and minor.

• Australian Government through Creative AustraliamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 February 2025Assisted Hawai'i Triennial 2025 as principal arts investment and advisory body for Australia
• Bloomberg ConnectscoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital guide platform partner providing the Bloomberg Connects app for HT25 visitor experience featuring 49 artists across 14 sites
• Howard Hughes Corporation, Ward VillageflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle and founding sponsor of Honolulu Biennial 2017 and co-title sponsor of 2019; major supporter of exhibitions and venue hosting
• Creative New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurator's Circle sponsor and supporter of Pacific art initiatives; supports artist participation and curatorial programs
• Hawaii Tourism AuthoritycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDistinguished sponsor supporting tourism and visitor engagement for exhibitions
• Bishop MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural institution partner and presenting partner for Art Summit 2021; key venue for exhibitions
• Honolulu Museum of ArtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresenting partner for Art Summit 2021; exhibition venue for biennial and triennial programs
• Hawai'i State Art MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresenting partner for Art Summit 2021; exhibition venue and collaborator on professional development programs
• Mori Art MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational museum partnership through Director Fumio Nanjo's curatorial leadership
• Art 'Ennials AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership organization connecting biennial and triennial presenters in North America for knowledge sharing and best practices
• International Biennial AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit arts association platform for institutions and professionals who plan and curate periodic art events
• Foster Botanical GardenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for exhibition installations including HB19 and HT25 works
• The Friends of 'Iolani PalaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresenting partner for Art Summit 2021
• Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture and DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresenting partner for Art Summit 2021
• Hawaii International Film FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenting sponsor for Chain of Fire exhibition; cultural partner for cross-disciplinary programming
• ArtAsiaPacificminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia sponsor and press coverage partner for exhibitions

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Singapore Biennale: Major Southeast Asian contemporary art biennial. Comparable as a recurring international exhibition in the Asia-Pacific region drawing regional and global artists.
• Yokohama Triennale: Japan's leading contemporary art triennial. Comparable as a triennial-format (3-year cycle) international exhibition in the Asia-Pacific region, similar in scale and cadence to Hawai'i Contemporary.
• Venice Biennale / La Biennale di Venezia: The world's preeminent recurring international art exhibition. Most directly comparable as a large-scale periodic contemporary art exhibition operating across multiple venues with global artist commissions.
• Whitney Biennial / Whitney Museum of American Art: Major US biennial presenting contemporary American art at the Whitney Museum. Comparable as a flagship national biennial with critical press recognition and recurring multi-venue exhibition format.
• Honolulu Museum of Art: Hawai'i's largest art museum operating in Honolulu. It is a direct peer as a contemporary art institution serving the same Hawaii audience, and is an active venue partner hosting Hawai'i Triennial exhibitions.
• Bishop Museum: Honolulu-based cultural institution and Hawai'i State Museum of Natural and Cultural History. A direct peer as a major Hawaii cultural institution and active venue partner for Hawai'i Contemporary exhibitions.
• Sharjah Biennial: Major Middle Eastern contemporary art biennial. Comparable as a globally recognized recurring exhibition with significant government arts investment and international curatorial ambition.
• Gwangju Biennale: Asia's leading contemporary art biennial held in South Korea. Comparable as a major recurring international exhibition drawing global artists and significant institutional funding.
• Prospect New Orleans: US triennial (previously biennial) of contemporary art based in New Orleans. Closely comparable in format, scale, and US-based periodic contemporary art exhibition model.

Broad incumbents

• Mori Art Museum: Tokyo's leading contemporary art museum with international focus and strong Asia-Pacific curatorial leadership. Comparable as a contemporary art institution with Asia-Pacific connections; a current advisory partner via Artistic Director Emeritus Fumio Nanjo.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/hawaiicontemporary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hawaii-contemporary

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hawai‘i Contemporary