A Scene in Green: Bayou City Art Festival's annual Art Heist puts the fun in fundraising

Bayou City Art Festival puts the fun in fundraiser with its annual Art Heist event.

The backstage event, called A Scene in Green, celebrating Pantone's 2013 color of the year — emerald — will be held this Sunday, March 24, from 2 to 5 p.m. during the Bayou City Art Festival at Memorial Park.

A Scene in Green will feature food from Melange Catering, libations from Stella Artois and Dripping Springs Vodka, entertainment with a DJ spinning live beats and the traditional "heist," which provides patrons with the chance to win donated pieces from some of the participating festival artists. Art Heist attendees are encouraged to wear their finest green to the spring garden party to commemorate the color of the year.

The three ticket levels for the event include all-you-can-eat-and-drink at the event, VIP parking and festival admission for Sunday. The highest ticket level, Emerald (sold out at $500 a ticket), ensures the ticket holder will win a piece of donated festival art. Jade, the mid-price ticket for $100, gives individuals a one in four chance to walk away with an Art Heist selection. The Peridot level, at $50, includes admission to the event and food and drinks.

This year's honorees are local restaurateurs Robert and Mimi Del Grande, the couple who are half of the Schiller Del Grande Restaurant Group, the geniuses behind RDG + Bar Annie, Taco Milagro, The Grove and other eateries.

"Robert and Mimi have been promoting culture in the city for many years through their first restaurant, Café Annie, and their involvement with festivals such as this one," says BCAF executive director Kelly Kindred. "I'm proud that Bayou City Art Festival is able to honor the Del Grandes at this year's Art Heist for their constant devotion to endorsing the arts."

"We love the arts, we support the arts," says Robert Del Grande. "Without love and support, there would be no arts. And the world would be an uninspired place."

The Bayou City Art Festival's biannual festivals (there's a second one held downtown in the fall) have raised more than $2.7 million for arts and service organizations in Houston. This year all proceeds from the Memorial Park festival will go to 16 local charities including Bering Omega Community Services, SNAP and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The groups provide the volunteers that are instrumental in putting on the festival.

Tickets to the March festival are $15 at the gate or $13 if you buy now online. And members can get two free tickets, with a few other perks (membership is just $150), while kids get in for $3 (children two and under get in for free). And you will want to bring the little ones because there are plenty of interactive activities for them.

A Scene in Green will be held in the Emerald Tent on South Picnic Lane at Memorial Park Conservancy on Sunday. The art preview is from 1 to 2 p.m. and the main event and heist will follow from 2 to 5 p.m.

Bayou City Art Festival will take place from Friday through Sunday at Memorial Park.