Artist Alley application

You may purchase either 1 full table or 1 half table.

If you apply for a full table, there will be an option on the application to accept a half table if there are no full tables remaining at the time of selection.

You are entitled to up to 2 Artist Alley badges. Whether you use the second badge to share your table with another artist, or use it to bring a helper is completely up to you.

In either case, however, you will need to provide us with the identity of the other person. You can do this either on your application or in your payment portal. There is a deadline to do this! Make sure to read the application form and all email communications carefully.

Please note that as the primary table holder, you are responsible for the other person’s conduct. If they do something that could result in disciplinary action (e.g. a ban), it is you who that action will be taken against as the table is under your name.

While sharing your table is allowed, you may not sublet or sell your table to anyone else.

A panel of judges assess each applicant’s submitted pieces for the following criteria. Judges are rotated each year to reduce the potential for bias.

• Relevance: Is the style and subject matter of the artwork related to anime, video games, or Japanese pop culture, and/or does it strongly cater to Otafest attendees?
• Uniqueness: Does the artwork have a unique style? Does the artwork contain underrepresented subject matter? How many other applicants are providing very similar content?
• Execution: Is there a high level of consideration and effort behind the artwork? Are proportions, etc. correct for the style of art? Does the artwork showcase technical proficiency and craft?
• Durability (if selling physical items beyond prints): Does work appear durable and high quality? Will the build materials last or do they look like they will break/tear/warp/deform soon after purchase?
• Quantity of Samples: Were enough pieces submitted in the application for the jury to feel confident in their assessment? Were samples high enough resolution for a good evaluation? Was the applicant able to follow the submission instructions?
• Usage of AI: Does any of the art appear to be generated by AI? (instant disqualification)

Successful applicants will receive payment deadlines and specific details on how to pay in their acceptance email. Otafest only accepts online payments via credit card.

Proxy selling is prohibited at Otafest.

Proxy selling refers to the practice of selling works on behalf of a creator who is not in attendance.

Otafest is a celebration of the talented creators who fill our halls. We want attendees to connect directly with the artists and makers behind the work they love. For this reason, the creator of the merchandise being sold must be present at the table. This policy ensures that the spirit of Artist Alley remains focused on the artists who are there in person to share their passion with the community.

The hall will be available to you on Thursday evening and Friday morning for setup. Please see the schedule for specific times.

Before setting up, you must check in with Otafest staff at the Exhibitor Relations booth to pick up your Artist Alley badge(s). Please wear your badge for the duration of your setup as well as during the days of the festival. Due to the risk of theft, Otafest does not permit anyone without a badge into the Exhibitor Hall.

Any helpers you have, including just for setup, will require a badge. No exceptions. Please understand that this is to prevent merchandise theft for all artists and vendors. If you see someone in the hall without a badge, please inform the staff at the Exhibitor Relations booth.

Artists will bring in their materials through the hall’s main doors. There is an elevator from the main floor for your convenience. Tables in the hall will be labeled by number. Please note that artists do not have access to the loading dock for setup unless specifically requested and approved.

If you require access to the loading dock, please notify us by March 31. Please note that this requires Otafest’s and the venue’s approval, and will involve a materials handling fee.

You can sell original art pieces in various media, created by yourself, so long as it does not violate any laws (including copyright laws) or Otafest Festival Policies.

• You must abide by licensing and copyright laws. The sale of illegal merchandise is also prohibited.
• You may not sell AI-generated art. This is defined as artwork generated via the use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, or similar algorithms.
• The sale of weapons and/or props resembling realistic weapons is prohibited at Otafest. Props that abide by Otafest’s Festival Policies may be sold.
• The sale of mystery containers is prohibited at Otafest. A “mystery container” is defined as a bag, box, or container whose exact contents are unknown to the purchaser until after the purchase has been made. Due to several issues arising in prior years regarding the quality of items included in mystery containers, Otafest no longer allows their sale.
  By contrast, you may sell “Blind Boxes”, defined as different toys from the same collection contained in a sealed box.
• The sale of food and drink is prohibited unless authorization has been granted from Otafest and Marriott Catering Services. A Food and Beverage Authorization Request Form must be filled out and approved by Otafest and the venue. If you intend on selling food or drink, please inform the Artist Alley team once your application has been accepted. The sale of regular sized Pocky, Hi-Chew Fruit Chews, and flavored KitKat bars has already been approved for all Exhibitors.
• The sale of Otafest branded merchandise, mascot characters, logos, or other Otafest trademarks is prohibited unless you have received prior approval in writing from Otafest.
• The sale of adult materials is permitted, however such items may not be sold to minors, nor can they be placed somewhere such that a minor could see it on display. It is your responsibility to ensure that the customer is of legal age prior to purchase.

Please let the Artist Alley team know if you need any clarification.

If you wish to include a charged raffle or draw (i.e. where people have to pay to enter), then you must obtain a raffle license from the Government of Alberta and notify Otafest with proof of that license. Otafest must also approve the raffle.

Please refer to the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis website for details on license requirements.

Otafest reserves the right to remove unlawful or unauthorized raffles or draws during the event.

A “stamp rally” is a type of scavenger hunt organized by a group of artists who give out a prize package for attendees who collect every stamp from each participating artist. The intent is to drive traffic to the participants’ tables. In order to collect these stamps, attendees are usually either required to buy something from the artists, or do a task such as singing a song if they don’t want to spend money.

While we love and encourage your involvement in our event, it’s necessary for us to address certain details to ensure compliance with both legal regulations and Otafest policies.

To foster the spirit of celebration, we are more than happy to permit free-of-charge stamp rallies provided that you notify us. However, paid stamp rallies (e.g. attendee must make a purchase to earn a stamp) are considered a “paid lottery system” and thus require a license from the Government of Alberta. If you obtain such a license, you must provide proof of such to Otafest. Please note that Otafest must also pre-approve the rally irrespective of license status, so it would be a good idea to contact Otafest before applying for the license.

To promote a seamless experience, we have established the following policies:

1. Artists intending to conduct stamp rallies at Otafest must submit a sample of their rally’s stamp card, relevant information, and list of prizes to Otafest via email.
2. Only stamp rallies approved by Otafest will be permitted to take place during the event.
3. Please ensure that all promotional material clearly states that participation is free of charge, emphasizes that your stamp rally is not officially affiliated with Otafest, and provides explicit details about the number and nature of prizes that participants can win.
4. Anyone in violation of these policies, particularly those found to be running paid stamp rallies without a license from AGLC, will be removed from the event, and Otafest will be forced to report the incident to law enforcement.

Your cooperation in adhering to these guidelines is crucial in maintaining the integrity of Otafest and ensuring a positive experience for all attendees. If you have any questions or require further clarification, feel free to send us an email.

Artists who do not make it through the application process are all automatically added to the standby list, where they can be offered a table should there be a cancellation.

The Fire Sale list is an additional list that artists can opt into if they would like to be contacted at the last minute if there are no-show artists or last-minute cancellations. This list is best suited for local artists who are ready to pay, arrive to Otafest, and set up their table on short notice (often less than 24 hours).

Depending on the date, different policies will govern whether you get a refund, and for how much. Please see the policy on the application form (or in your application confirmation email) for specific details.

Artist tables are limited to a maximum of 2 badges.

The venue does not have a dedicated lot for artists / exhibitors.

Street parking is free on Sunday, and will be free after 6pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

A Calgary Parking Authority (CPA) parkade is also available in the North Building next to the loading dock. Please refer to the CPA site for specific lot details and rates here. Please note that the parkade has a clearance of 6’ 8” (2.05m). If your vehicle exceeds this, there are other parking lots in the area.

If you are parking in a ParkPlus/CPA lot, you may also want to set up a ParkPlus account to pay for parking online over multiple days. Create an account and click “More Options” > “Online Activation”. It will have a calendar to allow you to fill in your plate number and the times and days you will be parked there. You can access this via parkplus.ca.