Small Press
Update: Due to the postponement of Kumoricon 2020, we will not be making acceptance decisions for Kumoricon 2021 Artist Alley or Small Press based on our 2020 application process. We understand that stock and skill change over time and we would like to give all our applicants an equal opportunity for admission, so we will be asking that artists reapply in 2021.
Instead, the top 120 Artist Alley and top 20 Small Press applications (from our 2020 juries) will be listed and promoted on our website as part of a digital KumoriMarket. As of August 3, 2020, we have contacted these accepted applicants via email with further details.
The below information will be updated with Kumoricon 2021 application information as the event approaches.
The Kumoricon Small Press welcomes freelance artists and creators by providing space to sell their personal works at the convention. Kumoricon defines the Small Press section as independently-developed artist businesses featuring original content. This includes companies that focus on fashion apparel, tabletop games, webcomics, plushies, and much more!
Quick Information
Applications for Small Press have closed as of May 11. We will notify applying artists of acceptance, decline, or waitlist status before August.
Kumoricon's 2020 Small Press will be juried. The jury process will begin following the close of Small Press applications with notifications going out to all applicants (whether accepted, rejected, or waitlisted) before August. The Jury Process will be based on (in order of importance):
- Adhering to the Small Press rules and guidelines based on information in the application (incomplete applications are disqualified)
- Variety of products/offerings/artwork (categories of many types)
- Professionalism and completeness of portfolio
Artists should be ready to provide:
- Basic contact information, including an up-to-date email address
- Examples of work through photos or videos of booths at prior events (this is highly preferred), DeviantArt/YouTube tutorial/websites with example art, or any online link that gives examples of work.
Pricing and applications: Full Small Press spaces include 2 full weekend memberships (valued at $90-$140), and will have a cost of $350 for standard booths ($300 base fee plus $50 corner value). New for Kumoricon 2020, all Small Press booths are "corner" booths, meaning at least two of its four sides are open.
Small Press booths are 10-foot by 10-foot corner booth spaces with 8-foot tables with a 2-foot width and two chairs. Each artist booth comes with 2 full weekend memberships to the convention.
Please read this important information: Small Press is intended to be a showcase of independent businesses and original art (not fan creations based on industry characters). You may only display, distribute, or sell items which are original creations of the artist(s) at the booth. These original creations may not include, as any element of their design, intellectual property not created by the artist(s) at the booth. If your portfolio or website contains fan art (used for other events or Artist Alleys that allow it), please acknowledge that, if accepted as a Kumoricon 2020 Small Press exhibitor, you will be omitting the fan art in question from sales in the "Additional Information" section at the bottom of this application. Failure to do so may result in your application being automatically declined.
If you have any questions, please email smallpress@kumoricon.org and we will be happy to assist you.
