1. Why is there a fee for the artist spot?

Otakuthon At Home opted to use the vFairs platform to create a virtual space that offers a similar experience of attending a convention online while keeping the Otakuthon spirit. However, it is a professional service, so the fee is necessary to pay for the online platform.

2. Can I register for more than 1 spot?

No. Artists are not permitted to register and purchase more than one spot. Applicants are also only limited to the registration of either an artist spot OR a dealer booth. Applicants found to be applying for both an artist spot AND a dealer booth will have their registration refused.

3. What if I made a mistake in the registration form?

Please do not resubmit the form. Contact the Artists’ Area Team at artistsarea@otakuthon.com with the corrections.

4. Can I customize the artist spot?

Only the catalogue file and logo you submit can be customized.

5. What can go in the artist catalogue?

The catalogue is used as a gallery to showcase the artist’s work within the online platform. It must be provided as a PDF document, with the design entirely up to the artist and no limit on the number of pages. It is very important to have the artist’s website link and logo displayed at the top of the catalogue so that it can bring the attendees to their website. The link will not be displayed elsewhere.

Examples of catalogue: a simple page with just the logo and website link (to bring the attendees to their website to continue browsing), or most of the artwork displayed over several pages.

6. What is the live chat option?

Artist Spots have a public, real-time Q&A chat box that is readable by all attendees besides their catalogue. The Artist can also be contacted via private messages on the side.

7. When do I need to submit the logo and catalogue?

Please have all items ready as soon as possible after receiving the spot confirmation email as everything needs to be submitted no later than July 24, 2020.

8. Are we allowed to sell 18+ content?

Due to the virtual nature of the event, no adult materials (rated 18+) may be present in the catalogue submitted for your artist spot nor sold in the virtual convention as there are no reliable age verification measures in place. Otakuthon will not be held responsible if you sell 18+ materials. Reminder: IT IS A CRIMINAL OFFENCE TO SHOW PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL TO MINORS.

9. Will there be a refund for the registration fees?

A 50% refund will be provided for any cancellations made before July 31, 2020. Any cancellation made after this date will be non-refundable.

Please refer to the Artists’ Area page for more information or contact the Artists’ Area Team at artistsarea@otakuthon.com for other inquiries.

Selling Fan Art at Otakuthon

For this year’s special edition, Otakuthon is offering virtual artist spots in the Artists’ Area of the Exhibition Hall. This allows artists to continue hosting artist tables and demonstrate their artistic talents, while attendees can still enjoy browsing the Exhibition Hall, albeit virtually, and support our beloved artists.

Whether you’re a new or veteran artist, Otakuthon is delighted to welcome you to join our virtual Artist’s Area. Please read all the information below to know more about the virtual artist spots and know if you meet all the requirements. If you do, apply fast because we only have a limited number of spots!

For more information, please contact artistsarea@otakuthon.com.

1. Artist Virtual Spot Pricing

Space: 1 Artist Spot

Features: 1 Logo and 1 portfolio. Live chat with attendees.
Registration Cost*: $70 CAD

*All rates are in Canadian dollars and include taxes.

**Artist Spot price includes admission to the event.

2. Artist Virtual Spot Qualifications

2.1 Registration

Artists may only apply for one Artist Spot. Artists may not apply for a Dealer booth AND an Artist Spot. Each spot is managed by an individual exhibitor login account which is used to interact with visitors at that spot.

2.2 Artist Spot Layout

Artists will be given a spot in the Artists Area. Artists must provide:

• Their logo (300x300 pixels JPEG) to be posted as a sign on their spot.
• A catalogue PDF containing their logo, a link to their site, samples from their portfolio and pricing. This catalogue can be multiple pages and will be displayed on their spot alongside a public Q&A chat window. This file must be provided in advance for review. NOTE: Due to operating constraints, the PDF Display cannot be updated after it has been submitted.
• (Optional) A video presentation link (must be a YouTube or Vimeo link).

Please have all items ready as soon as possible after receiving the spot confirmation email as everything needs to be submitted no later than July 24, 2020.

Each artist has their own Q&A chat section for attendees to ask questions that is visible to everyone. Private negotiations can be held over Direct Message chat.

2.3 Website

Artists MUST have their own website where they are already selling their pieces of art (i.e: Etsy, Shopify, Paypal, DeviantArt, etc.) to be able to register. All purchases and transactions made between Artists and attendees will be handled by the Artists on their site and will not be the responsibility of Otakuthon. Artists must have their own means of collecting funds and shipping their products. Any Artist applicant found not having a proper website already selling their pieces online will be disqualified from applying for a space, and/or from operating a space (an already paid spot will be forfeit).

2.4 Artwork

Artist Spots may only be used to sell pieces of art which the Artists produced, and may not be used to sell mass-produced commercial goods. The art may be original or fan art. Pieces being sold may not be pirate/bootleg items or otherwise violate copyright policies. For fan art, the following may not be used in the resulting work: traced artwork, replication of commercial/copyrighted artwork/designs, company logos and character names.

2.5 Age and Appropriate Content

Artists must be aged 16 years and older. Due to the virtual nature of the event, no adult materials (rated 18+) may be present in the catalogue submitted for the artist spot nor sold in the virtual convention as there are no reliable age verification measures in place. Otakuthon will not be held responsible if Artists sell 18+ materials. NOTE: IT IS A CRIMINAL OFFENCE TO SHOW PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL TO MINORS.

2.6 Proxy

The Artists must own the rights to the works they are selling. Proxies aka “third-party resellers” will not be offered at the virtual convention due to the current COVID-19 circumstances.

3. Artist Registration Information

3.1 Registration

Artist spot registration will take place in July. There are a limited number of Artist Spots, and placements of artist spots will be randomized. Registration launches on July 14 from noon until July 15 midnight (EDT) or until all spots are filled.

Please have the following information on hand when filling the application:

• Full Name
• Artist Name or Store Name
• Email (and Paypal email if different from the main email for communication)
• Link to their artist website/shop with an independent and viable payment system

3.2 Payment

Due to the COVID-19 situation, the only accepted payment option will be via Paypal. The payment request will be sent to the Artist’s email after they have been confirmed a virtual artist spot.

3.3 Refunds and Cancellation

If you registered as an Artist but are no longer able to attend, please contact the Artists’ Area Director at artistsarea@otakuthon.com as soon as possible. A 50% refund will be provided for any cancellations made before July 31, 2020. Any cancellation made after this date will be non-refundable.