Stephen King, executive director of the Des Moines Arts Festival, has been elected to serve as the 2017 chair of the world board of directors for the International Festivals & Events Association. He will begin his term Jan. 1. King was elected to the board in May 2014 and to the IFEA Foundation board of directors in February 2012. Since then, he has been involved with a number of initiatives to raise awareness and the profile of the organization, as well as contribute to its educational mission. The IFEA recently awarded the Des Moines Arts Festival the prestigious Gold Grand Pinnacle Award at its 60th annual convention in Tucson, Ariz.