Artist Alley
(Please note that the forms will not be enabled until November 30th, 2024 at 10AM ET)
The Artist Alley is for Independent artists that create print media and 3D crafts.
Please read the following carefully.
An applicant to the Artist Alley must meet the following preliminary conditions:
- The artist is representing their individual body of work or a team of work — without the use of a representative or agent, AI technology— and has excluded any commercially published works or works represented by a commercial publisher;
- The Applicant will represent at least 50% of the merchandise on the table they are registered to.
- The Applicant must be at least 18 years of age by November 30th, 2024, as per Ontario regulations and be able to supply a Government Issued ID.
Please note that tables cannot be filled by individuals whose names are not registered to the Artist Alley.
Application Procedure
Anime North’s Artist Alley is going to be a lottery system designed to ensure a fair distribution of tables between primarily print media and craft artists.
We ask applicants to categorize themselves by primary type of product - print media focused versus 3D craft media. This will ensure a balanced assortment of artists in the area.
To submit your application, an online form will be posted at the top of this page for the applicant to fill out on November 30th, 2024. Please review the listed requirements in the section below as you will need to supply the information during that time.
Confirmation of your registration will be sent out within a 14 day period along with wait list information. If you do not receive an email by Friday December 13, 2024 please email us.
Registration Requirements
Each Applicant applying to the Artist Alley must:
- Not be registered to a Pro Plaza table or be on the Pro Plaza waiting list.
- Not be registered to sell their work in the Vendors Hall, and/or have any work or merchandise represented for sale in the Vendors Hall on consignment.
- Provided links to 2 example images of your work.
- Have a website for your represented work that includes images or art or crafts the Applicant has sent images of for Staff to review. Sites such as Instagram, Twitter, Bluesky or Etsy will be rejected automatically.
- Represent his/her own body of work, or art team, and cannot act as a proxy or representative for another artist.
- Represent 100% of the merchandise present on the rented table if alone, and at least 50% of the merchandise on the table if sharing with a Secondary Artist.
- Supply a preliminary merchandise list and have all listed items approved.
- Have read and understood both the Anime North Convention Policy and the Artist Alley Policy for 2025.
- Have confirmed that the applicant(s) will be at least 18 years of age by November 30th, 2024.
- Be in possession of a Government-Issued Photo ID (e.g. driver’s license, passport, etc.) on May 23rd, 2025 for the sign-in process.
Please be aware that Anime North Exhibitors will no longer be accepting Health Cards as of 2018 in accordance with the Personal Health Information Protection Act. Ontario Photo ID cards are acceptable as a form of photo ID.
If you identify yourself as a Trans* (transgender, intersex, genderqueer, or otherwise) artist with legal name concerns (ie your name on your ID does not match your current name), please make us aware at the same time that you send in your application so that the necessary action can be taken. If you are such an artist, please know that this policy has been included to make your attendance of Anime North as comfortable for you as possible, and none of your information will be shared, published, or misused.
Table Information
The applicant is offered one table maximum, no exceptions.
An artist table measures approximately 2’ x 6’ and have a maximum of two (2) chairs.
- Table with one artist admission costs: $209.05 ($185.00 + 13%HST)
- Secondary Artist or Helper admission (max of 1) costs: $70.00 CAD
- ● Table cloth available for sale on a FCFS basis: $5.00 CAD
The applicant must purchase their secondary artist or helper’s admission through the Artist Alley. Please refer to Artist Helper/Secondary Artist Section for further information.
Artist badges must be visible at all times when the artist is inside the convention facilities as per agreement with the Anime North Convention Policy. Even if the individual is cosplaying, they are required to follow this rule without question.
Tables may only be set up by the primary artist and/or their helper/secondary artist. They may not bring in non-artists (i.e. anyone without an artist badge or not registered to the artist areas or convention) to help with set up. If additional help is needed, volunteers designated by Artist Alley Staff will be available during setup. No friends or family not registered to your table will be permitted into the building before or after normal con hours.
Artist Helper/Secondary Artist
The option to add a maximum of one applicant, either an Artist Helper or a Secondary Artist, to a table will be available after the Artist Alley registration is completed.
Please note that an Artist Helper or a Secondary Artist must pass and meet the requirements listed in section Registration Requirements, and have the required information ready for submission when requested.
Artist Helpers do not need to submit any artwork samples.
All Secondary Artists or Artist Helpers are required to sign and submit a contract to be a valid participant in the Artist Alley
**If you are an art duo or team, your secondary must be from your art team or a helper.
Table Cloth Rental
As of Anime North 2024 tablecloths will no longer be available to rent in the Artist Alley. A limited number of tablecloths will be available for purchase for $5, on a first come first serve basis. You will be responsible for the tablecloth after you purchase it, and it will be considered littering if you abandon it Sunday without proper disposal. Littering of your table area can impair your ability to apply to Exhibitors sections in the future.
Registration and Payment
Once you have received confirmation that you will be tabling in the Artist Alley, follow up information with the Artist Alley Policy and Contract Agreement 2025 will be sent to you. Please note that all payment will be made via online invoicing.
No online invoices will be sent until you have received your confirmation, and all contracts are successfully completed and submitted.
Open Hours
Open access to convention attendees (times are subject to change):
- Friday, May 23, 2025: 5:00pm – 10:00pm EDT
- Saturday, May 24, 2025: 10:00am – 8:00pm EDT
- Sunday, May 25, 2025: 10:00am – 5:00pm EDT
Sign-in information will be supplied to the artist participants closer to the convention date. Please review it carefully once you receive it.
Artist Alley Policies & Rules
Merchandise
Artists may sell and create their crafts and merchandise in the Artist Alley, so long as the content sold at their table does not include copyrighted images that are already licensed by other companies.
Only the artwork of the artists registered to the table may be sold at that table. They may not represent any artist that is NOT present at their table or registered with the Artist Alley at any time.As of Anime North 2025, the following changes will be made for sellers of 3D/craft
media:
- If you are a beader, you must be the primary producer of your products; what this means is we will be limiting the use of mass produced charms in crafting media
- You may continue to sell your own, hand-made beaded creations but may be asked for production/progress notes or pictures
- For production of accessories, we will accept carved, sewn or otherwise handmade accessories for sale in the Artist Alley; re-covering of mass produced products (such as shoes) will no longer be accepted as a craft
- Handmade items such as shoe-covers are still permitted
- Crafts made with perler beads will only be allowed to comprise up to 20% of your available merchandise
- Candles may be sold in Exhibitors sections provided they are hand poured and unscented
- Press on nails may be offered for sale if:
- Liquid glue is not included in the package
- You are the primary producer of the images on the nails; no gluing on of charms or sparkles to pre-fabricated nails
For Anime North 2025: 3D printed crafts will be temporarily barred from sale in the Artist Alley while we educate ourselves and come to an agreement on the fairest way to host 3D printer artists in the future
Merchandise Prohibited from Sale
- AI generated media is prohibited from the Artist Alley.
- The use of licensed fabric is allowed in crafts with the exception of Disney or Marvel Fabrics, but the sale of unaltered fabric from the bolt is not permitted
- Solicitation merchandise such as “Will Yuri for Yaoi” and “Free Hugs” are not permitted for sale in the Artist Alley
- Products that primarily have text heavy images are not allowed for sale in the Artist Alley. Printed crafts must contain at least 50% illustrative artwork
- Crafts and artwork with emblems, symbols, logos or other copyrighted insignias are not allowed
- Any work, reproductions, or merchandise with copyrighted materials and/or trademarked logos and/or designs; this includes use of all official logos and copyrighted symbols
- Fan works of any Disney, Marvel, Pixar or Star Wars characters are not allowed to be sold in the Artist Alley (e.g. Pirates of the Caribbean, Spiderman, WALL-E, Labyrinth, Gravity Falls, X-men, Owl House, etc)
- ‘Welcome to Night Vale’ fan works are not permitted for sale in the Artist Alley in accordance to the wishes of the creators
- Replication of existing merchandise such as official merchandise from other licensed creations or artworks depicting trademarks or copyrighted logos are not allowed
- The resale of food, used goods, or retail items (like pocky, japanese items or craft supplies) is not allowed
- The sale of cosmetic items are not permitted in the Artist Alley, this includes but is not limited to makeup, bath products (soap, bath bombs etc), fragrances, contact lenses, tattooing and so on
- The sale of sexual paraphernalia of ANY sort is prohibited in the Artist Alley.
In case of doubt, please contact the Artist Alley Coordinator for approval of your product(s) with a photograph of the product in question.
Licensed Names and Trademark Use
The use of Official or Trademarked names of characters and their licenced show names in any language is prohibited for use on displays. Please refrain from marking merchandise with Licenced or Trademarked names and use creative names instead to avoid breaching Trademarks and Copyrights.
Proxy Selling of Merchandise
The Artist Alley emphasizes that an Artist must not sell any merchandise made by other artists. Failure to comply will result in the forfeiture of the participant or participants’ table(s), and future applications by all parties involved will be automatically denied.
If the applicant is interested in selling their work through a representative, please refer to Anime North’s Gallery Momiji for more information.
Preorder Sales of Merchandise
The Artist Alley allows transactions of preorder sales so long as they remain to be print orcrafted items created by the artists registered to the table. Using the Artist Alley table as a pick-up station for trades and sales of items (ie. Cosplay items, Costumes, commissioned illustrations, etc) not permitted to sell at the rented space is prohibited. Such transactions must be arranged outside the convention.
Please refrain from bringing or displaying prohibited items for sale in the Artist Alley tables.
Raffles
Holding raffles at the Artist Alley is prohibited.
Stamp Rallies
Stamp rallies are not endorsed or offered by Anime North or the Artist Alley. Any participation in stamp rallies are at the personal risk of the host(s) and participant(s). Any stamp rallies run in the Artist Alley must also not break any Anime North or Artist Alley rules, or any Municipal, Provincial or Federal laws including Ontario gambling laws.
Collaborative Works
Craft Collaborations
Art collaborations are only allowed for sale in the Artist Alley if they involve a maximum total of two (2) individual artists who are registered and present at the Artist Alley. There are no exceptions to this rule; waivers will not be accepted from artists that are not present in the Artist Alley.
If you are a member of an art team that has applied, and you require collaboration forms please contact us directly at [email protected] for further direction.
Displays
Artists may set up their reserved space as they see fit so long as it is safe, stable, does not interfere with other artists’ spaces and/or violate any Anime North AND/OR Toronto Congress Centre regulations. The reserved space is limited to the area provided by the convention.
If the applicant’s display falls or harms another participant or attendee, they will be asked to take the display down immediately.Your display may be no more than 10 ft from the ground, including the height of your table. As of Anime North 2024 you may also have a display situated behind your table so long as:
- It is not taller than 10 ft from the ground, nor more than 2ft from behind your reserved table space
- It is not blocking exits from the table islands or otherwise encroaching on your neighbors’ table spaces
- It can stand freely under its own power, and is directly on the ground and not on boxes, chairs or taped to the ground
- It is not a photography background/otherwise encouraging attendees and other unauthorized people to be behind your table space
Tables and chairs supplied to participants by the venue cannot be used as ladders or supports for displays. The participant confirms that the convention and the venue will not be liable for any injuries sustained by the mentioned activity before, during, and after the convention as proven by the participant’s initial and signature on this contract.
Balloons are not permitted inside the venue and may not be used for displays. They will be removed from the premises immediately, and the applicant will pay for any fines issued by the venue.
Prohibited actions surrounding displays are as follow:
- As stated above, labeling official/licensed names of series’ or characters on sale items or displays;
- Attaching anything to the wall/glass surfaces by tacks, pins, tape (or by any other means);
- Drilling holes, driving nails, hooks, screws or tacks, or making any alterations to any part of the Center or its equipment, including the tables;
- Using helium balloons as a give-away item or as part of a fixed display;
- Using tables and chairs as ladders to reach displayed work.
Displays overhanging into other Artists’ tables, doorways, corridors, safety exits or any other area outside the reserved space will NOT be allowed.
Adult Material
The sale of sexual paraphernalia of ANY sort is prohibited in the Artist Alley. In case of doubt, please contact the Artist Alley Coordinator for approval of your product(s) with a photograph of the product in question
Conduct
All participants are expected to respect and abide by both the Anime North Convention Policies and the Artist Alley Policy for 2025. Anime North convention policies can be accessed through the Information tab on animenorth.com. Failure to abide by these policies will result in immediate loss of any Artist Alley privileges, loss of membership, and expulsion from the convention. If you have any concerns during the convention, please bring them to the attention of the Artist Alley Coordinator and/or Exhibitor Staff.
Please note that Anime North reserves the right to revoke or deny the application of individuals with records of serious offenses in any of our artist areas from previous years.
Behaviour not acceptable in the Artist Alley includes but is not limited to:
- Selling or subletting the use of the rented table to another individual;
- Selling your artist admission to another individual;
- Lending your artist or helper admission badge to another individual;
- Taking chairs from other artists or areas;
- Allowing someone not registered to the Artist Alley to sell at your table;
- Breach of any of the con policies including but not limited to those governing fire exit, maximum capacities, harassment, PDA, and damages to convention reputation, other attendees, or facilities;
- Applying for or signing in for a Artist Alley space under a name not your own;
- Posing as a registered artist by use of their identification with or without permission. This is a case of fraud and/or theft, and is punishable by law;
- Offensive emails to Anime North Staff members, mass trolling (continuous posts of offensive messages) directed to Anime North Staff members in electronic forums.
Please respect your peers, your audience, your space, and our staff and volunteers. Help us make sure that you have a smooth Anime North experience.
Reservations for Artist Alley tables are allocated at the sole discretion of the Anime North Artist Alley Team. Anime North is in no way obligated to provide tables to any person, persons, or group, and reserves the right to decline applications from any person, persons, or group which have violated the Code of Conduct or Policy specified above.
All complaints, conflicts, or discrepancies concerning the Artist Alley Staff and/or another Artist should be directed to and only to the Artist Alley Coordinator.
Liability and Responsibility
Artists are responsible for reading the information stated here in full, and for making sure they understand it before they apply. Anime North, Exhibitors and Artist Alley staff and volunteers are in no way responsible for your failure to read these stated policies.
Artists are responsible for their own property, merchandise, and money. Under no circumstances will either Anime North or its agents be liable for loss or damages including but not limited to merchandise, equipment, or revenue. The Toronto Congress Centre will be locked at the end of every night; however it is the responsibility of the artists/exhibitors to look after and ensure safe storage of their personal property.
Neither Anime North, nor its agents, nor its partners are in any way responsible for injury caused by chairs, ladders, tables, stairs, or personal negligence. Exhibitors understand that they are responsible for their own safety and agree to release Anime North from any and all liability concerning lost goods and monies, or injuries by agreeing to participate as an artist or helper in the Artist Alley.
Refund Policy
As of Anime North 2018 the Artist Alley will no longer be offering refunds on cancelled tables, artist, or helper badges.
Tables and artist admissions cannot be credited or rolled over for the next year.