40th anniversary year
Festival shakeup: Kim Stoilis resigns as the Bayou City Art Festival's executivedirector
Kim Stoilis of Bayou City Arts FestivalPhoto by Anthony Rathbun
Bayou City Arts Festival
Little more than a month before the Bayou City Art Festival’s 40th anniversary downtown fall fest, the organization’s leader Kim Stoilis is resigning as executive director, CultureMap has learned. Stoilis will leave her post in a matter of weeks.
Art Colony Association Board of Directors president Mike Piana confirmed to CultureMap that Stoilis announced her resignation to the board (Art Colony runs Bayou City Art Festival) last week and that they have begun to make preparations for her departure. Stoilis could not be reached for comment.
“We have started a committee to find the next executive director, but sufficient staff is in place to put together a wonderful festival in October,” Piana said.
Stoilis served as the executive director of Art Colony and the festival for more than four years and Piana said the board was pleased with her tenure and contributions.
Since joining the Art Colony Association, Stoilis helped bring Bayou City Art Festival attendance and revenues to record-high levels. The Texas Festivals and Events Association honored Stoilis with its top award — TFEA/Carson Watt Professional of the Year Award — earlier this year. Piana said he could not comment on what Stoilis' future endeavors will be.
The Bayou City Art Festival Downtown takes place Oct. 8 and 9. Juried by professionals at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the two-day street party features more than 300 artists and draws thousands downtown.
