New Director To Lead Hawai‘i State Foundation On Culture & The Arts - Jonathan "JJ" Johnson

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New Director To Lead Hawai‘i State Foundation On Culture & The Arts - Jonathan "JJ" Johnson
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Jonathan Johnson is the new executive director of the Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture & the Arts, the seventh person to hold the post in the nearly 50-year history of state arts agency. He replaces Eva Laird Smith who resigned at the end of 2013. Jonathan "JJ" Johnson has been with the HSFCA since 1988, holding many positions within the agency including program manager, project manager, conservation coordinator and registrar for the Art in Public Places Program and director of the Hawai‘i State Art Museum.

A graduate of Kalani High School, Johnson has a B.A. degree in design with an emphasis on business administration from California Lutheran University.

"Jonathan has great experience working with the Hawai‘i art community, state government and the culture and arts staff," said Barbara Saromines-Ganne, chair of the HSFCA commission. "Most importantly, he brings a great passion for the arts and this agency, as well as strong ideas for improving activities and processes in this new era."

Johnson is well respected in the Hawai‘i arts and architecture com- munity for managing the creation and installation of art at the UH Cancer Center, UH West O‘ahu, the UH Hawaiian Studies building, Kapolei and Hilo Judiciary, the Hawai‘i Convention Center and state airports on all islands, among many others.

"After 25 years at the state arts agency I am honored to accept this challenge," Johnson said. "I believe I have the necessary relationships, the required training and substantial experience to help guide the agency to be significant to the people of Hawai‘i, reflecting a sense of place that will be admired, respected, and enjoyed by the community and all who visit for generations to come."

Johnson managed restoration of the Tadashi Sato mosaic at the State Capitol rotunda, completed in 2009. He has overseen the artist-in-residence programs of several dozen Hawaii public schools. He was co-curator of ARchiTecture, Exploring Public Art in the Built Environment, a 2010-2011 exhibition at HiSAM and the new Sculpture Garden at the Hawai‘i State Art Museum.

However, Johnson may be best known to the public for chairing the Hawai‘i Commemorative Quarter Advisory Commission which conducted a very public process to design the coin that today represents Hawai‘i in the Fifty States Quarters Program.

A committee of foundation commissioners chose Johnson from a long list of in- and out-of-state applicants, with the assistance of the State Department of Human Resources.

About Hawaii State Art Museum

The Hawai'i State Art Museum is dedicated to presenting the largest and finest collection of works by Hawai'i artists that celebrate the diverse artistic and cultural legacy of Hawai'i.

OUR MISSION
To promote, perpetuate, preserve and encourage culture and the arts, history and the humanities as central to the quality of life of the people of Hawai`i. HSFCA funding is provided by the State of Hawai`i and the National Endowment for the Arts. The HSFCA is administratively attached to the Department of Accounting and General Services.

HOURS:
The musuem is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed State and Federal Holdays. Always free admission. For pre-recorded information call 586-0900.

The Hawai'i State Art Museum is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. For pre-recorded summary information on the museum, call (808) 586-0900. For current museum program information, call the HSFCA Art in Public Places Program at (808) 586-0305. To arrange an educational tour of the museum, call (808) 586-9958.

For information on the HSFCA; the Hawai'i State Art Museum; HSFCA grants, programs, and services; Hawai'i arts and culture events; and USA and worldwide arts opportunities, visit the HSFCA website, www.hawaii.gov/sfca.

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First Friday Hawaii News Item

New Director To Lead Hawai‘i State Foundation On Culture & The Arts - Jonathan "JJ" Johnson

First Friday Hawaii
News Item