This petition will be sent to the Fountain Square Event Management (FSM) office in Cincinnati, Oh. This office coordinates the Tee Shirt Festival each year on Fountain Square which is held each summer (July). Various tee shirt vendors and small companies from the local area are encouraged to attend and display their "Cincinnati themed" designs. In March, Billy Tackett Studios (BTS) verbally contacted FSM about attending the festival and received positive feedback, being informed we were one of the first to inquire about this years event. Subsequent follow up emails have been sent/received on 4/13 (encouraging us to check back 6 weeks prior to the event for the vendor application), 6/22, 7/2, 7/6, 7/7, 7/8 (declining our application), and 7/10. Finally, on 7/10 Billy Tackett Studios contacted the managment office via telephone to enquire about the decline. To our chagrin, it was confirmed (albeit nicely) that our application was declined due to the nature of our tees. Our tees did not fit the "image" the management office was going for on Fountain Square and we would "stick out like a sore thumb". We at BTS disagree and feel management is underestimating the citizens of Cincinnati. By not allowing us to attend the event as a vendor they are ASSUMING they know what "type" of people are interested in our art. Our marketing has shown that a wide range of people love our art and merchandise, including Cincinnatians. We also feel that we are a Cincinnati company. Our shirts are purchased from a Cincinnati company. Our printer is located in the Cincinnati area. And we are based in Northern Kentucky. The Cincinnati area truly is home for Billy Tackett Studios. Artist Billy Tackett has been a professional artist for over 12 years now, publishing over 200 book covers and illustrations. He has been interviewed numerous times online, in magazines, and newspapers, both nationally and internationally. BTS attends over 20 events per year; most by invitation, as Guests of Honor. Local events this year alone include: The Southgate House gallery showing in Newport Horror Rot -n- Roll CD release concert in Ft. Wright Hell in a Handbasket's "Black Devil Doll" movie premiere at the Know Theatre The Covedale Arts Fair Free Comic Book Day at Rockin' Rooster Comics Seventh Street Faerie Fest in Newport Northside Rock -n- Roll Carnival Horror Hound Cincinnati MarX Gallery Halloween event We respectfully ask the Greater Cincinnati citizens to assist us in proving to FSM that our art is very much respected and desired on Fountain Square. Our goal is to have our application approved for the Fountain Square Tee Shirt Festival 2010. More information can be gathered by visiting www.billytackett.com.