The Artist’s Alley at Anime USA hosts on average over 60 artists from around the country, and is juried to include a variety of styles, topics, media, and other items. Our artist alley is in a central location at the heart of the convention, and is a highlight for many of our members every year.
If you are interested in vending as an artist at Anime USA for 2025, please consult the FAQ below and contact artistalley@animeusa.org or submit your info to the digital application here. Applications received after April 16th, 2025 will not be considered.
We will be returning to the Hyatt Regency Crystal City (2799 Richmond Hwy, Arlington, VA 22202) from October 10 – 12, 2025. We expect the Artist Alley to return to the Independence Level location, where it was in 2024.
(Open 1/2 hour early for Staff and Sponsor Badges, Thursday setup hours are TBD)
Friday: 1:30 PM – 8 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 7 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 3 PM
Artists may only sell their own work in the artist’s alley. Most fan art in digital or physical media is allowed, as well as anime and Japanese themed handmade items, and other commercially produced but designed by the artist items. Licensed material and official merchandise vendors who did not design their own products should apply to the Dealer’s Room instead.
Products with restrictions as dictated by the Commonwealth of Virginia and our organization are itemized in the Artist’s Alley contract in full, including restrictions on Adult Material (18+) and no AI or generative art. 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 contracted rules will result in expulsion from the convention and forfeiture of convention membership with no possibility of a refund for payment for spaces in the artist alley.
Each artist alley space is 6′ by 2′ wide, no half tables are available. Artists may not resell tables. Each artist will be provided with one 6′ table and one chair per space that they may position as desired in their space, as long as it does not interfere with other artists or violate fire codes. Limited electricity is available, and one Artist badge will be provided per applicant, with the option to purchase more at a discounted rate as needed for your business. To address previous connectivity issues in the planned space, one Wi-Fi access code for the hotel’s system will be included per artist.
Artists will be 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 2025. According to the VA tax office, participants in a convention are liable for sales tax on taxable sales and must file a Form ST-50.
- By web: https://www.tax.virginia.gov/
- By phone: (804) 367-8037
- By Mail: Virginia Department of Taxation, PO Box 26627, Richmond, VA. 23261-6627.
$210 per Table
Anime USA’s Artist Alley applications are juried (75%) as well as assigned on a lottery system (25%), and accepted until April 16th, 2024. Once registration has opened you may apply using the form here: https://forms.gle/h1jgdvQpPTBKsmeJ6
Anime USA juries 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. Anime USA will contact all artists via email to inform them of their decision. Once table availability and reservations are confirmed, please mail, or digitally send a signed Artist Alley Contract with payment for all tables and all Convention Memberships to the address provided by the Artist Alley Coordinator.
If accepted, the Artist’s Alley Department Head will hold your reservation for two weeks. If payment is not made within two weeks, your reservation will be canceled, and the space(s) will be made available to others.
