Bayou City Art Festival Producer Art Colony Association, Inc. Welcomes New Board Members, Elects Officers 

HOUSTON (April 27, 2023) - The Art Colony Association, Inc. (ACA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to producing the Bayou City Art Festival, announced the addition of Rodney Butler and Judge Kyle Carter to its Board of Directors and the return of Board Member Doug Parker. ACA also elected the following board officers:  

·        Mike Pede, President 

·        Allen Brivic, Vice President 

·        Michel Muyelle, Treasurer  

·        Obes Nwabara, Secretary 

“The contributions and support of our board is the heart and soul of the success of the Bayou City Art Festival, and I am excited to welcome our new members and thank our elected officers as they lead the Art Colony Association Board of Directors. With their experience, connections and knowledge, our board serves to embrace our mission to bring art events to the Houston community while raising awareness for art education and programs that enlighten and inspire all Houstonians,” said Kelly Batterson, Executive Director of ACA.   

A native Houstonian, Rodney D. Butler is a graduate of James Madison High School where he excelled at art, wood shop, and drafting. After graduating from high school, he received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Tuskegee University and later an associate degree in computer Animation at the Art Institute of Houston. While at the Art Institute, Rodney realized that he was an artist at heart. Rodney's work has been featured in various festivals, galleries and museums and countless underground art shows.

Judge Kyle Carter has been judge of the 125th District Court since 2009 and is board certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is licensed to practice in the state of Texas, United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. Judge Carter is a native Houstonian, a graduate of Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, the University of Texas, and South Texas College of Law. Judge Carter is active in many nonprofit organizations including Shriner’s Hospital and Rite Care, Sickle Cell research, University of Texas Chancellor’s Council, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Judges at Work in Schools, Join, Inc.



Doug Parker returns to the board after a move back to Houston from Los Angeles. A native Houstonian, Parker has long-standing roots in Houston’s nonprofit, arts, and business communities including DiverseWorks ArtSpace, SEARCH Homeless Services, Upper Kirby District Levy Park Foundation, East End Foundation, and the Urban Land Institute. He is co-founder of Elevate Marketing Advisors, providing branding, planning, and strategic marketing and business development services for professional services firms. Parker is a Fellow and past National President of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS). Prior to launching his firm, he was CMO/COO for BoyarMiller, a mid-sized Houston business and litigation law firm. He holds a BA double major in Communications and Psychology from Houston Baptist University.  

On October 14-15, 2023, Bayou City Art Festival will celebrate more than 50 years of providing unique art experiences and education for the greater Houston area by bringing diverse artists to Bayou City Art Festivals while supporting local organizations and promoting the impact that art has on the Houston community. As the nation’s premier fall outdoor art festival in the U.S., Bayou City Art Festival Downtown will provide guests with the opportunity to meet 300 artists, view original works, and purchase one-of-a-kind art, prints, jewelry, sculptures, functional art, and more. The festival features two entertainment stages, a food truck park, a craft beer and wine garden, additional live entertainment and beverage stations throughout the festival, an Active Imagination Zone, a VIP Hospitality Lounge, Chef’s Culinary Arts Stage, and much more.

For the most recent updates, follow the official event hashtags #HouArtFest and #BCAF, like the Facebook page, or follow on Twitter and Instagram. Also, subscribe to our newsletter here. 

About Bayou City Art Festival: 

Since the founding of the Westheimer Art Festival, now known as Bayou City Art Festival, the Art Colony Association, Inc. has raised more than $3.6 million for local nonprofit programs from the proceeds of its festivals. Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park in the spring and Bayou City Art Festival Downtown in the fall has provided a venue for more than 20,000 artists to showcase their work to thousands of art lovers from all over the world. Bayou City Art Festival is ranked among the best in “Fine Art and Design” by Sunshine Artists Magazine. 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. For more information, please visit www.artcolonyassociation.org.   

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