The 2017 Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park has art, music and more on the weekend of March 24-26
Proceeds from the three-day outdoor fine art festival will benefit six local charities
The 2017 Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park, produced by the Art Colony Association, Inc. (ACA), is slated to spotlight over 300 artists from 19 different disciplines in Memorial Park.
As the nation’s premier outdoor fine art event, the three-day festival will feature music, food trucks, beverages, entertainment, a Children’s Creative Zone and much more.The three-day celebration will be held Friday – Sunday, March 24- 26, 2017, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Plan for an entire day of fun with the return of DJ Mark Towns, Tino & Jose–The Rock ‘n Roll Mariachis on March 24th and Keyun & The Zydeco Masters on March 25th.
Be entertained by Hillary Scullane of Bubblelandia in the Children’s Creative Zone, and BellaDonna Dance Company will mesmerize with their Egyptian-style belly dance performance. Jennifer Lang, who recently performed at Super Bowl LIVE, will put on a costumed hoop dance show. Also all the way from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Grazzhopper brings us a fusion of the best parts of bluegrass and folk on Saturday, March 25th. In addition, Cirque du Soleil brings a photo booth and street team from their upcoming performance of KURIOS!
For the past 46 years, ACA, has provided a venue for more than 20,000 artists to showcase their artwork to thousands of art lovers from all over the world. The participating artists, some new and some returning are selected by a new jury every year.
This year’s featured artist, Amanda Bennett, is a mixed media artist that transforms mid-century advertising, acrylic mediums and photography into a mash up on plywood, inspired by pop art and funk style. As a child, she use to paint with her grandmother and used a spatula as her primary tool. Now, Bennett resides in New Orleans where the city’s rhythm, color palette and energy stirs and ignites her creative process.
Six local non-profits that will benefit from a portion of the proceeds of the event. Each non-profit provides volunteers and has the option to host an art station in the Children’s Creative Zone.
The six non-profit partners benefiting from the 2017 Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park include A Cause to Give Us Paws, ESCAPE Family Resource Center, Fresh Arts, Lawndale Art Center, Museum of Fine Arts-Houston, and The Arc of Greater Houston.
“The Art Colony Association is dedicated to producing fine art festivals and providing financial support to its local non-profit partners,” said Bridget Anderson, Executive Director of Art Colony Association. “The support from our sponsors and festival attendees help us raise funds, and we are truly grateful for our success in supporting local charities during the past 46 years.”
Where to Park: There is no public parking at Memorial Park. A shuttle service will be provided to take patrons from the Northwest Mall located at 9500 Hempstead Highway. Shuttle tickets are available for $4 at the gate and online. At Northwest Mall, there will be an ADA shuttle available for patrons who need it. You can also Uber, Bike or even walk from the other side of Memorial Park, whatever you do just get here!
Online tickets are on sale now until the day of the event at www.artcolonyassociation.org. Tickets online are $12 for adults and $5 for children 6 – 12; children five and under are free. Tickets at the gate are $15 for adults. Also available online are two-day passes for $20 and family passes (two adults, two children tickets) for $30. Discounted tickets for Veterans and Seniors will be available at the gate. Donations are also being accepted online.
For updates on social media, follow the official event hashtags #HouArtFest and #BCAF, like the Facebook page, or follow on Twitter and Instagram.
About Bayou City Art Festival: Now entering its 46th year, the Art Colony Association has raised $3.5 million for local non-profit programs through the festivals. A percentage of the proceeds support local art organizations and nonprofits. The Festivals are funded in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, corporate sponsorships, private contributions, in-kind support and volunteer assistance. Volunteer and sponsorship opportunities are available.
Sponsors for this year’s Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park include Direct Energy, Green Mountain Energy, LeafGuard Gutter Protection, Power Home Remodeling, Renewal by Andersen and Stella Artois. Media Partners include Absolutely Memorial, Art Houston, CKW Luxe, Culturemap, Greensheet Media, H Texas, Hot in Houston Now, Houston CityBook, Houston Family Magazine, Houston Lifestyles & Homes, Houston Modern Luxury, Houstonia, JMG, Key, La Subasta, Patch Houston, River Oaks Living, TravelHost Houston and Ultra.
photos courtesy of Bayou City Art Festival