Arts, Beats & Eats challenges community to design 2009 festival poster

PONTIAC, Mich.– July 9, 2009 – For the first time since its inception, Arts, Beats & Eats–A Festival of Hope is tapping the community to design this year's festival poster. From now through Fri., July 31, Arts, Beats & Eats is accepting submissions of artwork that will be on the 2009 poster, program cover and featured in advertisements.

"We're really excited to be engaging our fans in such a creative manner," said Jon Witz, Arts, Beats & Eats producer. "We are confident someone within the pool of creative talent in metro Detroit will create a stunning design that will continue our legacy of producing high quality, collectible festival posters."

The winning designer of the Arts, Beats & Eats Poster Art Contest will receive two VIP passes for each night of the festival, free parking, $250 in cash and $250 in Arts, Beats & Eats food and beverage tickets. The Arts, Beats & Eats poster art also will be entered in Sunshine Artists Art Festival Poster of the Year Contest.

A committee including the Arts, Beats & Eats Art Director, Marketing Director, and Event Producer determines selection of 2009 artwork. The winner will be announced in a press release in early August.

To be considered for selection, all artwork must be new, designed for poster format and created with the festival's theme for 2009: Arts, Beats & Eats–A Festival of Hope. While the selection committee will not censor any submissions, artwork should be appropriate in nature for all audiences.

Sponsor logos and text regarding the festival will also be on the merchandise along with the winning designer's art. Graphic designs are welcome for submission, but Arts, Beats & Eats will have the final call on logo and text placement. Official Arts, Beats & Eats logo for design purposes can be requested via e-mail at artsbeatseatspostercontest@gmail.com.

Each submission must be sent in a basic 300 dpi jpg format and emailed to Jennifer Accavitti at artsbeatseatspostercontest@gmail.com by Fri., July 31.  (No discs, or actual pieces of art allowed.) Submissions also must include the designer's full name, email address, a contact telephone number with area code, and a brief bio or artist statement. All submissions are the property of Arts, Beats & Eats.

For more information and a complete listing of the poster at contest guidelines, participants may contact the Arts, Beats & Eats office at (248) 334-4600 or visit www.artsbeatseats.com.

The annual Arts, Beats & Eats, Oakland County's Taste, Music & Arts Festival, is held over Labor Day weekend, September 4-7, 2009 in downtown Pontiac. The four-day festival will be open from 11am. – 11 p.m. on Friday (with art fair opening at 4 p.m.), 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Labor Day Monday. For additional public information, visit www.artsbeatseats.com, or call 248.334.4600.