Art Show Policy

The Art Show 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 Rules and Regulations.

If you have any further questions please contact the Art Show Assistant Department Head through email, artshow@acen.org.

Art show staff reserves the right to refuse to display work that does not comply with our guidelines.

Art Show Submission Guidelines

1. All work displayed must be your own. Traced/copied work will be removed at the discretion of the Art Show DH / ADH. (For example, you may not freehand copy or draw an existing piece of official art to place in the art show, even if you change colors or small details.)
2. All artwork must have an anime/manga/Japanese culture theme or style, which may also include video games.
3. Models/sculptures that are free-standing should have good support. These pieces will be placed on available table space. You may also attach some form of hanging device.
4. Flat artwork must be mounted, matted, or framed. This is for the protection of both the art and the Art Show’s patrons.
5. Construction paper, plain paper backings, plastic sheet protectors, and binders cannot be substituted for mattes, foam board, or frames.
6. All framed pieces must have a hook or line from which the piece can be securely hung flat against the grid using standard hooks.
7. Flat artwork will be hung on 2×6 grid-wall panels and must be prepared accordingly. Art and matting intended for placement on an art flat must be no more than 2 feet in width and 6 feet in height. please contact the Art Show DH to discuss placement of larger pieces.
8. Matted/Mounted pieces will be suspended with clips and hung on hooks. Please prepare your pieces accordingly. Artists will be responsible for bringing the supplies to hang their work.
9. Artwork that is not properly prepared will not be hung, and we cannot be held responsible for damage. It is also your responsibility to secure your pieces so they are not easily pocketed. We are not responsible for stolen works, we will endeavor to monitor the art show the best we can.
10. Each individual piece of artwork must be submitted with a Control Sheet upon arriving at the Art Show to hang/present your work for the Art Show. (Template will be provided during the pre-registration process and/or on this page, and is a Fill-able PDF File) Please make sure to complete all fields available. (If you intend to have more than 5 pieces in the Art Show, and you want to use the fill-able function, please complete the first page in it’s entirety with all of your work and print, then print the rest of the pages with your other pieces in those fields):
    • Title of Piece
    • Studio / Artist name or pseudonym
    • Medium of piece
    • Source Anime (If any) including names of characters depicted. Please include this after the title. (ex. ‘Title’, ‘Source’)
    • NFS / Quick-Sale / Minimum Bid information (In whole USD amounts only)
11. Due to low submission volumes and the family friendly atmosphere, adult themed works will not be accepted this year. This includes even tasteful nudity. Works such as these should be sold at the artist’s table after checking ID and verifying the age of the purchaser.
12. We reserve the right to move or change the way your artwork is displayed if necessary.
13. No photographs may be taken in the art show except by the artist for the purpose of archiving his or her own work.
14. Restrict the number of Not For Sale (NFS) items to five (5). These pieces must be marked clearly as NFS on the bid sheet.
    • You must notify the ADH of all items marked as NFS before the convention date
15. The final sale of a piece is at the discretion of the artist. If the artist wishes to cancel the bids and remove their work from the auction they may do so, the Art staff will respect your wishes.
16. Artists may choose to include business cards or contact information with their submissions, or in their art show display space. Inclusion of contact information so that contact may be made for commissioned work is at the sole discretion of the artist.
17. Art Show staff will not give out artist contact information to attendees at the convention, with the exception of explaining to convention-goers where artists are located in Artist’s Alley, in order to direct potential sales to the artists.
18. If you are unable to attend the convention you may sell your work by proxy. The agent shares the same responsibilities to hang and pick up the artwork on your behalf. Artists using an agent must include a listing of their work with titles and prices noted and a signed affidavit from you authorizing the agent to handle the work on your behalf.

Art Show Pre-Registration and Check-In Guidelines

1. Submission check-in for pre-registered artists will begin at 6:00 PM-9:00PM on THURSDAY EVENING.
2. Pre-registered spaces (flats and tables) will be set up at Art Show display area. Pre-registered artists may claim their space as they arrive to check in their submissions.
3. Pre-registered flats and tables will be held until 12:00 PM on Friday afternoon, after which unclaimed space will be made available for at-con artist registrations and submissions.
4. Any unreserved space will be made available for At-con artist registrations beginning when Registration opens on Thursday Evening.
5. All artists entering the show must supply Art Show staff with a valid mailing address, email address, and phone number to avoid past problems with payment delivery and disposal of artwork.

Art Sale Options

There are two options for selling your work – Quick Sale and Silent Auction.

• Silent Auction – Members of the convention will be able to make bids silently on a bid sheet during the convention. A minimum bid will be set by the artist, and the piece cannot go for less than the starting price. The piece will go to the highest bidder unless it is purchased for the quick sale price which nullifies all lower bids.
• Quick Sale – The piece goes for a set price, determined by the artist. If a bidder is willing to pay that quick sale price, they may claim the piece immediately. Bidders may place bids below, equal to, or above the quick-sale price. A piece with one bid under the quick-sale may still be purchased at the quick-sale price by a second bidder, but not after more than one.
• NFS – You may also mark your piece NFS – NOT FOR SALE

Selling prints

An artist may sell a single print of a work via the Art Show, as long as it meets the following criteria:

• The piece is marked as a print.
• The original is not hung in lieu of the print being sold.
• Only one copy of the print is to be hung and sold.

Art Show Contest

All pieces will be automatically entered into the Art Show Contest, where participants will be eligible to win the following awards. Only five (5) NFS pieces may be entered into the Art Show, therefore only five (5) NFS pieces may be eligible, per Artist, to participate in the Art Show Contest.

• Best in Show (Awarded by a Guest Judge)
• Best in Show Digital Media
  • 1st Runner-Up
  • 2nd Runner-Up
• Best in Show Traditional Media
  • 1st Runner-Up
  • 2nd Runner-Up
• Best in Show Non-Traditional Media
  • 1st Runner-Up
  • 2nd Runner-Up

After The Convention: Concerning Claiming Unsold Art and Receiving Payment

• Pickup of unsold works is after 4 p.m. on Sunday.
• Art Show is not responsible for holding or shipping artwork for purchasers or artists after the convention unless prior arrangements have been made.
• Artwork must be picked up, in-person, unless shipping arrangements have been made, or it will become the property of the convention.
• If Shipping arrangements have been made, you must pay postage in advance and make arrangements with the Exhibit Space Staff for shipping.
• Patrons will be allowed to pick up from Saturday night until noon on Sunday. If the piece has not been claimed by such time, all bids are null and void, and the artist may reclaim the piece after 4 p.m.
• In the event that an unsold piece of art has not been picked up, or it has not been picked-up and paid for by a patron, and the artist has not made prior arrangements for its shipping, that art will become property of the convention.
• If artwork has been sold through the Art Show or Auction, the log sheet will be made available for viewing to you, and a signature will be required to pick up any remaining artwork. You will be issued and mailed a check for the total sales, less a 10% commission, after the convention, but before the beginning of the next convention fiscal year.

Art Show Pre-Registration Procedure

If you wish to pre-register for space, you MUST first complete the on-line pre-registration Artist Alley / Art Show Registration. After completion, you will be contacted by the DH or ADH to finalize arrangements. Pre-registering artists will be expected to prepay.