Artist Alley 2023 Applications closed at 11:59pm May 1st.
Terms and Conditions
Rules and terms for the Artist Alley at the Anime USA Convention, September 22nd-24th 2023, Hyatt Regency Crystal City, Arlington, VA. By purchasing tables in the Anime USA 2023 Artist Alley, you (the Artist) agree to abide by these rules and terms. These rules include the rules below and all rules that apply to Anime USA convention members (listed on our website) including the laws of The Commonwealth of Virginia.
Location
Location is Hyatt Regency Crystal City, Independence Center B. Anime USA reserves the right to change the location.
Tables and Rates
The Artist Alley will consist of tables that are 6 ft long by 24 inches wide. Artists may configure their table as they like so long as it does not interfere with others or violate fire codes.
One table may be reserved. Half tables are not available. Rates for Artist Alley are $150 per table and include the cost of one membership per table. Individual Artists are limited to one full table, maximum of two artists per table. Artists who wish to share tables or be at adjacent tables should register as a group.
| Dates | 1 Table + 1 Artist Membership | Extra Artist Membership (per person) |
| Until Aug 16th, 2023 | $150 | $50 |
| After Aug 16th, 2023 | $150 | $50 |
Registration for an Artist Alley table includes one membership for the convention; if more memberships are needed they are to be purchased at the rate listed above. Artists, assistants, or any other convention attendees without an Artist badge will not be allowed to participate in Artist Alley.
Electricity
Electricity is included in the cost of the table.
Internet
An access code for the internet may be purchased before or during con at the rate of $50 per access code. Each access code is intended for only one device’s use. Anime USA acquires WiFi connections from our hotel for Artist use, we do not control or maintain these connections, thus we cannot make any guarantees.
Reserving a Table
Anime USA’s Artist’s Alley applications are juried as well as assigned in a lottery system. Seventy five percent of Artist Alley will be filled via the jury system, and twenty five percent will be chosen based on a lottery system. Anime USA Juried artists based upon the quality of work, the quantity of items to be sold, the variety of items to be sold, and to ensure a diversity of products throughout the alley. A juried wait list will be created from the remaining studios. Once registration has opened you may submit your studio information to https://forms.gle/h1jgdvQpPTBKsmeJ6 . Submissions will be accepted until the closing date of May 1st, 2023. Any submissions received after the closing date will not be considered.
Anime USA will contact all studios via e-mail to inform them of their decision. Once table availability and reservation is confirmed, mail, or digitally send a signed Artist Alley Contract (see below) with payment for all tables and all Convention Memberships (see below) with check payment to the address that will be provided by the Artist Alley Coordinator.
Payments before the convention can be made by check or money order payable to Anime USA. The Artist Alley Coordinator will provide the payment address. Any bounced checks will be subject to a $25 processing fee. Please allow up to eight weeks for your payment to be processed.
Payments via Paypal will also be accepted with a 3% convenience fee added to the total amount. Add $4.50 per table, $1.50 per extra Artist Membership, $1.20 if you requested internet.
After a reservation is confirmed, the Artist Alley Coordinator will hold your reservation for two weeks. If payment is not made within those two weeks, the reservation will be canceled and be made available to the next artist.
All Artists who reserve tables must send registrations for all those who will be participating from their group with the assigned Artist Alley contract and payment.
If, for any reason, an artist is removed from or wishes to voluntarily leave the convention early, they automatically relinquish all rights to their table, including re-sale of that table to another artist. Gifting or selling of tables from artist to artist is strictly prohibited.
Canceling a Table
Only the listed point of contact on the Artist Alley Contract can cancel the table. To cancel your table, send an email to the Artist Alley Coordinator at artistalley@animeusa.org. You may also send a cancellation request to the mailing address listed above. Table cancellations received after Aug 15th, 2023 will not be refunded.
Hours of Operation
Artist Alley doors will be open to the public during the following schedule:
Friday: 1pm-8pm
Saturday: 10am-8pm
Sunday: 10am-3pm
The doors will open 1/2 hour early for guests, staff, and sponsors.
After closing hours, only Anime USA staff and Artist Alley badge holders are permitted in the Artist Alley.
Artists may begin setup of their tables starting at 8pm on Thursday, September 21st, 2023 and will follow the public schedule until cleanup begins at 3pm on Sunday, September 24th, 2023. Artists must remove all their material from the Artist Alley by 8pm Sunday. Anything left behind will be thrown out or become the property of Anime USA. Anime USA reserves the right to change the hours of operation.
Artist Alley Check-In
Artists must check in at the Artist Alley Coordinator table prior to occupying their tables in the Artist Alley to receive their convention information and badges. All tables will be assigned and labeled. Artists may swap tables only with the approval of the Artist Alley Coordinator. Artists who fail to check in by 6pm Friday of the convention will forfeit their tables, unless they have made prior arrangements for a later check-in with the Artist Alley Coordinator. Forfeited tables will not be refunded.
Appropriate Sales and Conduct
Artists may only sell their own work in the Artist Alley. Artists will not sell commercial merchandise at their table, unless it is their own work. Any table, artist, or artist’s assistant found to be selling misappropriated or plagiarized merchandise is at risk of forfeiting their table and may not be considered for next year’s Artist selection. Forfeited tables will not be refunded.
The practice of Hawking, loudly and aggressively calling attention to your table and disrupting those around you, is strictly prohibited.
Artists will check IDs of persons to ensure they are 18 years or older before allowing them to view or purchase adult materials. Artists will ensure that any such works are to be in separate and clearly labeled folders from other work. The acceptability of displays of adult material is at the sole discretion of the Artist Alley Coordinator.
Commissioned artwork of an adult nature must be conducted in a discrete manner. Solicitation of minors for material that is adult in nature is strictly prohibited. Anime USA reserves the right to remove any artist whose behavior is disruptive to staff, other artists, and convention members.
Failure to comply with the above statements and warnings will result in removal from Artist Alley and forfeiture of all payments without refund.
Taxes and Licenses
Artists will be solely responsible for obtaining any tax identification numbers and paying all taxes, license fees, and any charges that will come due to any governmental authority in connection with their activity at Anime USA.
The following tax information is provided as a courtesy:
https://www.tax.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/taxforms/retail-sales-and-use/any/st-50-any.pdf
Promotional Rights
Artist grants Anime USA the right to list Artist’s name in our advertising and on our website and link to the Artist’s website. Anime USA grants the same reciprocal right to the Artist.
Security
Please be aware that though Artist Alley is located in a lockable room there will be limited security monitoring the room after closing hours. Artists are responsible for securing their own works and material when not present at their tables. Anime USA is not responsible for the loss or damage to the material and works of Artists.
Liability
“The exhibitor assumes the entire responsibility and liability for losses, damages, and claims arising out of exhibitor’s activities on the Hotel premises and will indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Hotel, its owner, and its management company, as well as their representative agents, servants, and employees from any such losses, damages, and claims.”
Neither Anime USA or the Hyatt Regency Crystal City, nor any of their representatives will be responsible for any injury, loss or damage that may occur to the Artist or to the Artist’s associates or property from any cause whatsoever. The Artist shall obtain, at his or her own expense, adequate insurance against such injury, loss, or damage, and provide proof of said insurance to Anime USA prior to the convention dates. Anime USA shall not be liable for failure to perform its obligations under this contract as a result of strikes, riots, acts of God, or any other cause of any kind whatsoever not within the control of Anime USA. Anyone visiting, viewing or otherwise participating in the dealer exhibit is deemed to be the invitee or licensee of the dealer, rather than the invitee or licensee of Anime USA. Anime USA shall not be liable for any injury whatsoever to the property of the exhibitor or the persons conducting or otherwise participating in the conduct of the exhibit or the invitees or guests of the artist and the Artist hereby indemnifies Anime USA for all such injuries and claims.
The artist understands that neither Anime USA nor the Hyatt Regency Crystal City maintains insurance covering the artist’s property and it is the sole responsibility of the Artist to obtain such insurance.
There is no other agreement or warranties between the Artist and Anime USA except as set forth in this document. The rights of Anime USA under this contract shall not be deemed waived unless specifically stated in writing and signed by an authorized officer of Anime USA. Any action which Anime USA or Artist may bring against each other, based upon or in any way relating to this Artist Contract or its performance, shall be brought in Federal or State court located within the Commonwealth of Virginia. Anime USA and Artist hereby waive all questions of personal jurisdiction or venue in order to give effect of this provision.
Anime USA reserves the right to remove any artist whose behavior is disruptive to staff, other artists, and/or convention members. If another member of the artist’s staff remains, the remaining staff may continue to operate their space, otherwise they will be forced to vacate their space and remove their merchandise. Each Artist is responsible for, and it hereby indemnifies Anime USA so that it is not responsible for, any claims or liability arising from the Artist’s actions
Severability:
Should any provision of this document be rendered or declared invalid by reason of any existing or subsequently enacted legislation or by any decree by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidation of such part or portion of this document shall not invalidate the remaining portions, and they shall remain in full force and effect.
Contacts
Any questions can be directed to the Artist Alley Coordinator at artistalley@animeusa.org or the Director of Exhibits at exhibits@animeusa.org.