VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — The third-annual Aware Exhibit is now open to the public at the Virginia Beach Art Center, with the theme, ‘Aware 24: With an Open Heart.’  The Aware Exhibit focuses on the LGBTQ+ community and involves people from all over Hampton Roads to help create some of the art featured.  “A lot of times, people think of galleries as a little bit stuffy, a little bit tight, and we want to make sure that people feel welcome,” said Margaret Foltz, executive director of the Virginia Beach Art Center.  Foltz said the goal of the exhibit is to be immersive.  “The intention of this exhibition is to bring to light some sort of component related to diversity, humanity, and societal issues through art,” Foltz said.  Over a year, people created 1,300 hearts of all different colors, sizes, and patterns, with the paintings and sculptures in the exhibit created by local artists and artists from all over Virginia.  “There are several artists within the exhibit that are not part of the pride community but are contributing with their art to highlight the positive sides of the community," said art curator Jorge Saenz, "and that's really what we want everybody to walk away with, is that it's all about inclusion and it's all about respect." The annual Aware Exhibit addresses societal issues through art. This year it's using its space to bring awareness, acceptance and diversity to the LGBTQ+ community.  “We had done the indigenous people, we had done human trafficking and we always want to do something within these exhibits that is important to the community,” Saenz said.  The art is not only something the Virginia Beach Art Center wants you to enjoy, but it is also using this time to educate every visitor.  “I was surprised, even as a member of the pride community, to realize that within the first five years of somebody identifying as a member of the pride community, 60% of those people [die by] suicide,” Saenz said, “so we want to give them tools. And these are the things that are out there to help you.” The exhibit will run through the end of the month. It is free and open to the public. The Virginia Beach Art Center is hosting multiple events throughout October. Click here for more information.