Regular Artists’ Area (Exhibitors)

Artist registration is now closed. We are no longer accepting applications. Thank you for your interest!

• Otakuthon has compiled a list of frequently asked questions regarding the Artists' Area and its application process. Click here to access the Artists' Area FAQ.
  

1. Important Deadlines & Changes for 2019

1.1. Dates & Deadlines

1.2. Changes for 2019

• New procedure: Badges are to be purchased separately through the attendee registration system. The artist application system will only be to purchase a table. In the Artist Registration Form, you will be asked to provide the account number so that your badge and table can be linked together. Please note that creating a pre-registration account does not mean you need to pay for the badge right away. You may wait to receive the confirmation email for the table and then pay for your badge afterwards. Additionally, you may apply for ONE premium artist table and ONE regular artist table. The premium artist table application will take precedence over the regular artist table application. DISCLAIMER: Artists are NOT permitted to submit multiple applications per table type and anyone found doing so under different names will be immediately disqualified without warning.
• Artist badges at the door: Additional badges can be purchased once the early bird badge deadline is past, or on site for artist group members. These badges cost $65 CAD. However, the members limit per artist group is still three, including the main artist.

2. Regular Artist Information

2.1. Regular Artists Area Table Rates

Pre-registration badges cost $50-$65 CAD each (see registration for details).

2.2. Artist Badges

All artists must wear their respective artist badge for the duration of the convention to operate as an Artist.

2.3. Payment

All payments shall be made payable to “Otakuthon”. The following methods of payment are accepted for artist table reservations (all prices are in Canadian dollars [CAD]):

• Paypal;
• Cash payment in person at the Otakuthon Office on May 25, 2019 from 1PM to 5PM.

If you wish to pay in person, you must have specified this in the Application Form or contact us at artistsarea@otakuthon.com to make changes to your payment method. Payments will only be accepted at the Otakuthon Office (205-5115 Avenue Trans Island, Montreal, Quebec).

If you request to pay in person and fail to show up without making alternate arrangements, your reservation will be automatically cancelled. If you cannot be present on this date, request to modify your payment type before May 25, 2019 or make sure to arrange for someone to pay.

2.4. Artists’ Area Setup

Tables may only be set up by the primary artist and their helpers. Any other person without an artist badge will not be permitted to assist in the setup.

Please do not leave any valuables unattended on location (including after the area has closed). Otakuthon will not be held responsible for any lost valuables or stock.

Please note that the Palais des congrès de Montréal's cleaning staff will be inside the Exhibition Hall after closing. Security guards will monitor the Exhibition Hall overnight during the cleaning on Friday and Saturday.

Any unclaimed table after the setup hours on Friday will be considerate abandoned, and the reservation will be cancelled, with no refund.

2.5. Artists Groups and Helpers

IMPORTANT: All individuals operating behind a table in the Artists' Area MUST be registered with as an ARTIST; this includes helpers.

Artists who wish to sign up together may register as an Artist Group. An Artist Group is limited to a maximum of THREE (3) artists: one (1) leader and two (2) members. Artist Group leaders must be 18 years or older. All helpers must be 16 years or older.

If you wish to add another helper after you have already registered for a table, please email the Artists' Area team at artistsarea@otakuthon.com with the following information:

First Name:
Last Name:
Date of birth:
Account ID:

If you wish to have someone watch your table (i.e. helpers), they must be signed up in your Artist Group. A group may not exceed three (3) members in total.

2.6 Proxy

Artists who are unable to attend the convention may request a Proxy Form from the Artists’ Area staff. This form must be submitted before the date listed in the Important Deadlines section.
Proxies must also purchase a badge and will be listed as the Leader or member based on the Application.

The Artist must also publicly acknowledge to the Artists’ Area staff that this engagement has been agreed upon. Means of acknowledgement include, but are not limited to:

• Artists’ portfolio (website, pixiv, DeviantArt, tumblr, etc.)
• Recognized social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, etc.)

Other means of acknowledgement can be accepted on a case by case basis by the Artists’ Area staff. Failure to obtain an acknowledgment will result in the rejection of the proxy request.

2.7 Refunds & Cancellations

If you cannot attend Otakuthon or do not wish to keep your table, please contact the Artists' Area Director at artistsrea@otakuthon.com as soon as possible to make alternate arrangements. A refund of 50% will be provided for any cancellations made before June 30, 2019.  Any cancellation made after this deadline is non-refundable. If an Artist fails to meet the requirements of the Artists’ Area after they have completed their Registration Form, they will be fully refunded for the table price.

Refunds are processed after the convention.

3. Rules and Regulations 2019

3.1. Three Strike Rule

During the convention, all tables must follow the rules and regulations of the Exhibition Hall. Failure to follow such policies may result in an Artist being removed from the convention premises with no compensation or refund of any fees.

If an Artist or their helpers commit an offence, they will receive a warning, and will be given a period to correct the issue. A second offence will be treated in the same fashion. A third offence will result in the expulsion of the Artist for the following years. Artists’ strikes will be considered for future applications depending on the severity of the offences.

3.2. General Conduct

All regular Artists must follow the regular Artist Application Contract, Exhibitor Guide and Otakuthon’s general policies. Please refer to the latter on the website and the Exhibitor Guide for more information. The following rules will be enforced during the convention:

3.2.1 Artists may only apply for one (1) Artist Table at a time. Artists may not use or display artwork in areas not assigned to them. Artists may not borrow other spaces or chairs which are not assigned to them even if they are not in use.

3.2.2 Artists may not block or interfere with any other Artists, Dealers or Exhibitors.

3.2.3 Harassment of or derogatory remarks towards Otakuthon staff members or volunteers will not be tolerated.

3.2.4 The Artist Group leader is responsible for their helpers. If a group member commits an infraction, the Artist Group leader will be held accountable and will be subject to the Three Strike Rule and may be removed from the Artists' Area with their group without compensation or refund.

3.2.5 Artists can eat within the Artists' Area if they keep their space clean. Any allocated spaces found to be excessively dirty at the end of the convention will have the cleaning charges billed back to the respective participants.

3.3 Merchandise

3.3.1 You must own the copyright for all artwork sold at your table. Which means all merchandise sold must be created entirely by the selling artist.

3.3.2 If you are selling on behalf of another artist, signed proof of your agency must be presented to the Artists’ Area staff by July 20, 2019.

3.3.3 Manipulated images and images copied from official artwork are not permitted.

3.3.4 Replicas of existing merchandise may not be sold in the Artists' Area. This includes but is not limited to logos and emblems from series such as Attack on Titan, Pokémon Go, etc.

3.3.5 Food may not be sold or distributed in the Artists' Area.

3.3.6 All materials displayed must be suitable for a general audience (within the guidelines of the PG film rating). Materials depicting nudity or sexual acts, or other forms of adult material are permitted but must not be displayed unless they are covered sufficiently or hidden from the view of minors.

3.3.7 Adult materials may only be shown and sold to individuals of age 18 and above who show proof of age through photo identification. IT IS A CRIMINAL OFFENCE TO SHOW PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL TO MINORS.

3.3.8 The Artist who sells adult materials must also be of age 18 and above as well as their helpers.

The acceptability of materials is at the discretion of the Artists' Area Team who may request the removal of any offending pieces.

3.4 Displays

3.4.1 Backdrops and freestanding structures are not permitted.

3.4.2 All structures, including stands and structures fastened above tables, must not exceed 5 feet in height above the table (equivalent to approximately 7.5 feet from the ground).

3.4.3 No article may be taped or otherwise posted on any walls anywhere in the Palais des congrès de Montréal.

If you have any questions or feedback about Artists' Area, contact us at artistsarea@otakuthon.com.