Artist Alley

At Shumicon’s Artist Alley you have the opportunity to sell and buy various types of art, handicrafts and other products!

Take a look at the application instructions below and apply to Shumicon’s Artist Alley!

The Artist Alley is located at Stoa’s Gallery. The Artist Alley has free entry and doesn’t require a ticket to enter. The Artist Alley is open on both days of the event from 10 to 17.

The Artist Alley is a place to sell art and other handmade products for both new and seasoned hobbyists. You can sell at the Artist Alley only on either Saturday or Sunday.

The Artist Alley table fee is 25 euros.
The price includes a table (150x70cm) and two chairs.

The Artist Alley application form opens on February 3rd at 9.00 and closes on February 23rd at 23.55. The Artist Alley vendors are selected based on portfolios. The application is done through Google Forms. The application form link will be added to this page once the form opens.

Please note that there is not a separate area for Artisans at Shumicon. The Artist Alley is primarily for hobbyist artists. If you are a more professional vendor we recommend you apply to the Vendor Hall.

Apply to the Artist Alley

Important information:

  • The selected Artist Alley vendors’ introductions will be published on Shumicon’s web page and social media. The applicants have to provide a short introduction text, an icon and 3-5 product pictures for the introduction.

  • You can apply to the Artist Alley alone, with a friend or as a collective. The applicants fill out the application form together.

  • The Artist Alley vendors will have introductions on Shumicon’s Instagram page.

  • The Artist Alley is open on both Saturday and Sunday from 10 to 17.

  • The table setup starts about an hour before the Artist Alley opens. You can not set up your table on the previous day. More information about guidelines and schedules will be sent to the selected artists before the event.

  • You don’t need a ticket to the event in order to sell at the Artist Alley. If you wish to participate in the event’s program that requires a ticket you have to buy a ticket.

  • When applying you can send a request regarding the table’s location. If you need an accessible spot or wish to have a table next to a friend you can inform about this in the application form. We aim to fulfill your requests but can not guarantee them.

  • The Artist Alley is located at Stoa’s Gallery. The area is separate from Stoa’s lobby and some of the tables will be located in the gallery’s loft area. You can access the loft by stairs or a lift.

  • The Artist Alley selections are made during March and all applicants will be informed about the results.

  • You can cancel your table spot before the event. Please contact the Artist Alley coordinator as soon as possible if you have to cancel your participation. The cancelled spot will be passed on to the next applicant in line.

  • More information about the table fee will be given closer to the event. The selected artists will receive an electronic bill that needs to be paid by the due date. If you cancel your table spot the paid table fee will not be compensated.

  • Remember to take a look at the guidelines and portfolio instructions before sending your application.

Portfolio:

Please read the provided instructions carefully. Incorrectly submitted portfolio may result in a rejection.

The Artist Alley vendors are selected based on portfolios. The jury consists of Shumicon’s organizers. We aim to select a diverse group of vendors for the event.

However, we recommend the products somehow reflect Shumicon’s themes, which are anime, manga, video games and Japanese popular culture in general. Fanart and original art are juried equally.

You can also sell handmade jewelry, accessories, handicrafts and 3D-printed products if you have made the models yourself. Please make sure that the handicrafts are distinctly made by you.

The portfolio needs to be submitted as a PDF-file or as a link to a web page. You can submit the PDF-file through a cloud service (e.g. a link to a Google Drive folder.)

Tip: You can make your portfolio by using Canva, PowerPoint or Google Slides and export it as a PDF. Do not submit a direct link to Canva or Google Slides. Please submit a PDF-file!

  • If you are not able to put together a PDF-file or a web page, you can also submit a Google Drive/Dropbox/OneDrive folder with pictures of your work. Please note that a social media profile (e.g. Instagram) is not accepted as a portfolio.
  • Make sure that anyone with a link can view your portfolio. In cloud services you have to specify who can view the shared link.
  • The portfolio is free-form and there is no limit on the number of images. That being said, you don’t have to display every single product in your portfolio. An ideal number of product images is about 8-15 and there’s no need to write long paragraphs of text.

    Tip: you can display the products as categories and display only a few product images from each category.

    Tip: If you have 30 different stickers in your catalog you can take a single picture of all your stickers and add it to your portfolio.
  • You can include unfinished works and mockups in your portfolio but we recommend you also add finished products. Loose sketches should be left out of the portfolio.
  • Display products you are planning to sell at Shumicon. Don’t include images that have nothing to do with the sold products.
  • You can add a photo of your table setup from a previous event or create a mockup of what your table would look like.
  • You can introduce yourself and tell about your previous experience on Artist Alleys. You can also tell about the products you plan on selling at Shumicon and about your art in general. With handicrafts, it’s recommended to describe the process of how the products have been made.
  • If there are two or more applicants, you can make the portfolio together or submit separate portfolios. The portfolios need to be sent in one application form.
  • The review is done based on the products and art displayed on the portfolio, not on its appearance. Please make sure that the portfolio has a clean and legible layout.
  • Only applications submitted during the application period through the application form will be reviewed in the selection process. If you have any issues with the application please contact the Artist Alley coordinator via email: taidekuja@shumicon.fi


Artist Alley guidelines and rules

  • At the Artist Alley you can sell your own original art, fanart and handicrafts.
  • When selling fanart, note that copied and traced works are not allowed. The products should reflect the artist’s own style and should not be too similar with the original source material. The vendors themselves are responsible for the products they sell.
  • The products sold at Artist Alley have to be illustrated and designed by the artist. The art and products should fit the event’s theme.
  • The vendors who sell handicrafts should aim to sell self made products. Especially with jewelry we recommend you avoid only using pre-made parts.

    It’s good to note that the handicraft items have been made using patterns and instructions that allow the finished products to be sold. The vendor is responsible for their products’ licenses and safety.
  •  The products sold on the Artist Alley have to be produced by the artist. Resale is prohibited.
  • Selling AI-generated images at the Artist Alley or the Vendor Hall is prohibited.
  • Shumicon does not have an age limit and is for all ages, so any explicit, sexual or violent content aimed at adults should not be on display. Products like this should be in their own separate folder that can only be browsed after confirming the customer’s age. The vendor has the responsibility to ensure that no minor has access to any of the previously mentioned content. We recommend you do not sell any 18+ material at Shumicon.
  • Selling racist, discriminating or otherwise inappropriate items is prohibited. Selling any material like this will result in a warning. Shumicon reserves the right to remove a vendor from the event if the vendor doesn’t remove the prohibited items despite the warning.
  • Every vendor at the Artist Alley is responsible for their own products, prices and cash. Do not leave your cash and other valuables without surveillance!
  • You may decorate your table with a tablecloth, displays and other decorations. Please make sure that any bigger displays are sturdy and safe! Bigger displays should be attached to the table with clamps or string. Note: this can not damage the tables!
  • All displays should be on the table. You may not set any displays (e.g. clothes rack)  next to the table. You can build additional racks and displays for the products behind the table but they can not take too much space. Suitcases should be placed under the table or somewhere else neatly. Please consider the other vendors next to you and leave enough space behind the table and on the sides.
  • Unnecessary loitering behind the table is prohibited. You may have helpers behind the table, but make sure your friends don’t unnecessarily loiter around the table.
  • Respect other vendors and their belongings! Don’t block walkways and make sure your belongings stay safe. Keep the volume down and don’t play your own music.
  • The accepted applicant does not have to be the one selling their products but the table can only contain the accepted applicants products. Helpers and assistants are allowed. You may not sell any products that aren’t yours and belong to a person who didn’t apply or wasn’t accepted to Shumicon’s Artist Alley.
  • The Artist Alley tables are primarily aimed at hobbyist artists and those whose sales aren’t professional. This being said, years of experience at Artist Alleys or a business-ID does not prevent you from applying to the Artist Alley. We might contact you if we think you should apply to the Vendor Hall instead.