Artist Alley Policy

The Artist Alley is a part of the Anime Central Event, which in 2011 was attended by over 23,000 people. The below information is the Anime Central 2012 Artist Alley Rules and Regulations.

If you have any further questions please contact the Artist Alley Assistant Department Head through email, artistalley@acen.org.

Artist’s Alley Rules

1. Sales: Artist Alley is a place for artists (and other creative individuals) to promote and sell their work. Therefore anything sold at the table must be a product of your own creative work (or a team member, if you work with others).
   • For example, if you’ve drawn a comic, you can sell that comic, even if it was commercially printed through a publisher.
   • Read up on copyright and Fair Use – this is great information! : http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html
   • If you aren’t sure something is sell-able in the alley, please ask the DH before the convention, so that there are no surprises.
   • You cannot sell commercially produced or unlicensed anime or manga items. This includes the resale of manga, DVDs, clothing, plushies, and figurines, ect.
   • You also may not use downloaded, scanned, or redrawn copies of images that are not your own work to create merchandise to sell. (Here’s an example: You cannot download an image from the web and silk-screen it on to t-shirts and sell those in the Alley.) You may not duplicate existing licensed merchandise in any form-clothing, figurines, etc.
   • You may not sell and/or display T-Shirts or Large Wearable Materials such as clothing in excess of 50% of your used table/area space, above, below, in front, beside, and behind said table/area space.
   • The use of Industrial machines, which are intended to mass produce items such as, t-shirts and vinyl stickers/decals, is prohibited in the Artist Alley. These are products which belong in the Dealers hall and will not be permitted in the Alley. (I.E. the use of compressors or vinyl cut printers belongs in the dealers’ room but a manual press button machine, products made on a home sewing machine, a Art/Comic/Manga Book of your own original Artwork, or prints are acceptable for the Alley.)
   • You should be able to prove that work is your own if asked. (I.E. your signature, other examples of your work, trademark/copyright notice, etc.)
   • Final determination of appropriateness is at the discretion of the Exhibit Space DH.
   • Due to RCC’s catering contract, you may not make available any food or drink items to convention attendees. This includes offering food or candies to people. Doing this leads to a breach in contract and will result in immediate expulsion with no refund.
   • Adult materials need to be covered or otherwise kept from the reach of minors. Please be responsible in your transactions-purchase and handling of adult materials must involve an ID check. Adult materials may only be sold by adults who are of legal age and can provide proof, otherwise they will be unable to sell this merchandise, asked to remove it from the Artist Alley if not removed then the offender(s) will be required to surrender their badge. Adult materials include all adult themed art and weaponry (fake or real). If it is found that you are selling to minors you will be removed immediately. MAPS reserves the right to require artists to remove items from public display if they are deemed unsuitable to the standards set by MAPS. This is enforced.
   • Please be considerate of other artists with displays, music, etc.
   • Anime Central Exhibit Space Management reserve the right to disallow registration for any Artist, Studio, or Individual, from attending the Artist Alley as an Artist, or Studio Member, in the Artist Alley for any length of time, without notification to the effected individual or studio.
   • Creative displays (easels, tablecloths, backdrops and the like) are encouraged, but be certain that your display doesn’t interfere with others’ space. Music, videos, etc. should not disturb others. Basically, we’re asking you to be a good neighbor, because we all very much value the community that is the Artist’s Alley.
   • You may not front a table from the Dealers Hall, or use Artist Alley / Art Show table(s) as a substitute for a Dealers Hall Booth, if found doing so your table and badge will be removed and no refund will be issued.
   • If your products are identified as exceeding the qualifications of an Artist Alley location, you will only be applicable for Dealer Hall registration for the current and/or subsequent years.
   • If you or one of your studio members is not the Artist of the work you sell, you may not sell that artwork. In addition if you obtained permission to sell said Artwork, but said Artist’s Art work is already being sold in the hall or the Artist is selling in the Hall, you may not sell that Artwork.
   • A studio member may not belong to multiple studios.
2. Space Management and Safety: Do not place items in the walkways in front of or behind your table space. Space allowed behind tables is sufficient for backdrops, etc. without interfering in the walkways. As the space behind your tables is designated for backdrops and your supply space having people sitting in the walkway behind your tables interferes with traffic of other artists who are trying to move out of their tables to go to the bathroom or eat. This goes back to being courteous to your neighbors. You are not allowed to have people sitting behind your table, blocking exits. Punishment for using space, any space whether it is behind, next to, in front of your table or on the opposite side of the artist alley can include but are not limited to: You being asked to leave the alley, Not being allowed back the following year, or removal of offenders’ badge.
3. Access: Access to the Alley outside of business hours is restricted to selected Anime Central staff and individuals wearing special Exhibitor / Artist badges. Access is only allowed during the special times laid out on the schedule any other time you will not be allowed in, there will be no exceptions. I.E. If you forget something in the Alley you will not be allowed back into the hall.
4. Badge: No individual will be allowed to sell merchandise without an artist badge. The only valid place of business during Anime Central is the contracted space(s) inside the Artist Alley. If you are found selling merchandise outside the Artist Alley without the express, written consent of MAPS, you risk being declared in breach of contract. This will result in removal of all table privileges and removal from the convention.
   • To receive a badge to sell in the Artist Alley/Art Show you must also register for a regular convention badge through the regular Registration system for Anime Central.
   • If you are or intend to be a panelist you must submit your panel request before you register for the Artist Alley. Further more, if you are or intend to be a panelist, the head panelist must use the same account to register for the Artist Alley as they did to submit a panel request. Failing to comply with said restriction will negate the panelist badge, and you will be required to purchase a badge to the convention in order to proceed in the Artist Alley process.
5. Space is assigned: Please do not move tables without the permission and aid of the Artist Alley staff. The configuration is designed for accessibility, safety and good flow of traffic. If a table needs to be moved for purposes of unloading, display set-up, etc, please inform a staff member before the convention. We will attempt to honor all reasonable requests. Subleasing or assigning any space without the prior written consent of management is strictly forbidden. If consent is provided, the Artist in that location is bound by all convention and Artist Alley rules and regulations. Management reserves the right to disallow or demand the ejection of any subleasing or assigning organization from the Artist Alley without notice to the original Artist.
   • You must remain at the table you are assigned to. You may not move to another table without written permission of the Artist Alley staff.
   • Circumstances may change ahead of time, so you may be moved to another spot. We will attempt to contact you, but we cannot be held responsible for any inconvenience this may cause.
   • You cannot request table spaces, you may ask to be near someone but we will not guarantee that you will be able to be near them.
   • Any table swaps must be approved by both parties and the Artist Alley DH or ADH. Forms must be signed by all parties. Keep in mind that table swaps will not be reflected on any maps or signs.
6. Attendance: Please plan to be in attendance at your table for a reasonable amount of time. If you do not claim the space by 9:00 am Friday, and have not made contact with the Exhibit Space DH to make other arrangements, we will release your space for at-con rental.
7. Refund Policy: If you register for a table and pay but find you cannot make it these are important dates for you. To receive a full refund you must place a formal request by February 20th, 2012. After February 20th, 2012 you will have a period of time between then and March 20th, 2012 where you can receive a half refund. After March 20th, 2012 no refunds will be issued. The refund only applies to Artist Alley Tables, Art Show Flats or Tables, not to badges.
8. Staff Requests: Please follow all requests of con staff. Failure to do so may cause the loss of your table without refund. If there is a dispute with a staff request or you feel the need to have something explained further, please see Phillip Schmidt (Exhibit Space Department Head), or the Assistant Department Heads and they will try to resolve the dispute as quickly as possible.
9. Loss/Damage: MAPS cannot be held responsible for loss or damages to your property while at the con. Please keep an eye on your belongings, merchandise and supplies. Be community minded and report any suspicious activity to the staff. Please do not attempt to detain shoplifter’s yourself-call out to staff; we have people trained to handle it. You also need to report individuals who are taking photos of your art that you have not authorized to do so, as you see fit. We will endeavor to put a stop to such actions. Basically Artist agrees to be responsible for, indemnify, and hold MAPS, the RCC, and their officers, employees, agents, affiliates and representatives, harmless from any and all claims of any nature, losses, damages, costs, expenses (including attorneys fees), personal injury, death, and/or any other claims arising from or related to any act or omission by the Artist or his/her property, agents, representatives or employees in contravention of its obligations under this Contract or any applicable law governing Artist’s activities at the Anime Central 2012.
10. Breaks: You are allowed to leave your tables for breaks. We encourage these breaks to be no longer then 30 minutes, and it is recommended that you remove items of value when you leave. We respectfully suggest that you do not let anyone you don’t know handle money at your table in your absence. If you feel you will be gone for more than 30 minutes, either bring along an accomplice or two to watch your space or you must make arrangements with the staff at the alley staff table to sign out for the day. This is to encourage artists to stay in the alley while it is open; an empty alley makes other artists look bad. If you abandon your table for the day, shortly after the alley opens, without signing out, your table may be released to other artists. I.E. if you want to go the masquerade but need to leave early, make arrangements and it’ll be fine, but if you show up for maybe two hours out of every day, and someone wants space, you could lose it if you have not made arrangements.
11. Binding Contract: When you contract space and submit your paperwork, you acknowledge that by signing the contract that you agree to the terms contained in it. If it is found that the age submitted was not accurate at the time of sign-up, this contract is null and void and will result in the loss of any Artist Alley and/or Art Show space without refund. That includes these terms. Please, read the contract and ask questions regarding anything you don’t understand. If you fail to read this contract prior to signing, you risk being declared in breach of contract. Breaking these rules may result in the loss of your space in Artist Alley without refund. Please direct questions or concerns to the Artist Alley ADH or Exhibit Space DH.