Art Show

Creative works of science fiction and fantasy, displayed for all to see.

Overview

The Minicon 54 art show is a non-juried show open to all artists who’d like to submit artwork in a science fiction and/or fantasy theme. Regardless of what media you work in — traditional, digital, fiber, sculpture, etc. — you are welcome. Most art is for sale, although some may be just for show. Art can be bid upon or, if the artists chooses, be immediately purchased at a set price.

Volunteers are needed for set-up, tear down, and lunch breaks.

Calling All Young Artists!

All artists under the age of 18 can display their art for free at the Minicon art show (no display fees). Please limit the number of pieces you submit to 5 per person due to limited space. All other art show rules below apply.

Mail in art

We regret to inform we are not accepting art via mail for MiniCon 54.

Rules

General Rules and Guidelines

  • Regardless of what media you work in — traditional, digital, fiber, sculpture, etc. — you are welcome. You may offer prints and/or original art for sale to attendees directly or by auction.
  • Minicon is a family attended science fiction/fantasy convention, so please keep this in mind when submitting your work for sale.
  • No pre-registration is required, control sheets will be available in the Art Room.
  • Art is accepted on a first come basis. Space is limited.
  • Permission to use copyrighted characters, when required, is the responsibility of the artist, not of Minicon or the Minicon Art Show staff.
  • Minicon will cooperate with legitimate efforts to enforce copyrights.
  • Security will be provided by Minicon staff while the Art Show is open, and will be secured in a locked hall by hotel staff at night.
  • Minicon and Minicon art show staff will not be responsible for theft or accidental damage to artwork or artist's property.
  • Art purchased via direct sale or auction will remain on display until Sunday, and may be picked up when the art show is open. Art purchased from the print shop may be taken immediately.
  • Single reproductions or prints may be entered or displayed in the art show. Multiple reproductions or prints should be presented in the Print Shop area.
  • Minicon accepts cash, check, and credit card. Credit card sales are handled by Dreamhaven Books in the adjacent dealers area.

Art Auction and Sales

Auction Artwork

  • The art show conducts a three-bid auction with a live auction for deciding pieces that have reached 3 bids.
  • Bid sheets are marked with the highest bid by bidders who want the piece by auction.
  • If as piece has fewer than 3 bids by Saturday at Art Show closing time, the highest bidder wins the piece.
  • If a piece is marked with three bids, the piece will go to live auction on Sunday for the bidders.
  • If a piece goes to auction and none of the bidders attend, the piece will go to open aution at closing ceremonies.
  • If a piece goes to open auction it may be bid by anyone.
  • If a direct sale piece is bid upon and is eligible for bidding, the direct sale option is no longer available.
  • Only pieces with no bids and are marked as direct sale pieces may be purchased at the artist's direct sale price.
  • A Minicon member badge number is required for bidding and the bidder must have contact information available through their badge number.
  • There will be no art pick-up/purchase by bidding winners before Sunday.
  • Once auction art is hung, it will remain on display until the close of the Art Show on Sunday, there is no Saturday artist check-out.

Direct Sale Artwork

  • Any art that has a direct sales price may be purchased at that price as long as there are no bids on it. The item will be marked as sold and will no longer be eligible for bid.
  • Once a piece is bid upon the direct sale option is no longer available.
  • Like Auction pieces, Direct sale pieces will remain on display until Sunday, when the purchaser may pick up their piece.

Print Shop

  • There will be a Print Shop area for prints and reproductions. Due to space limitation no more than 5 copies of any one work of art may be submitted, please.
  • Print shop items are not eligible for auction.
  • Artists do not need to submit artwork in the main show to have items for sale in the print shop.
  • Print shop items must be clearly described as such on Print Shop control sheets.
  • No hanging fee is charged for print shop items.

End of the Art Show and Beyond

  • Pieces won at auction will be available Sunday morning for pick-up, payment is due at this time.
  • Checks will be mailed to the artists/agents within four weeks after the end of the convention for total auction and/or print shop sales, minus the art show commission fee.
  • Artwork that is won by auction but not paid for by the close of the art show Sunday will be returned to the artist as unsold. Minicon will not deliver artwork to auction winners.
  • It is artist's responsibility to pickup their unsold art on Sunday by the start of closing ceremony. Minicon is not responsible to deliver abandoned art. Minicon will not deliver/mail/ship art back to artists/agents.

Check In/Out & Documentation

  • There is a $0.50 per piece display fee for each piece reguardless of medium entered by artists 18 and over. Under 18 price is free.
  • Minicon collects a 10% commission on all art sold through the Art Show and Print Shop. Minicon does not take a commission on the first $10 of sales for each artist.
  • Each piece of art work will be checked in and out of the art show by art show staff before it can enter or leave the hall. This is to provide an accounting of each piece that is turned over to Minicon and to track sales totals.
  • Art work can be removed only by direct sale buyers, auction winners or artists after check out.
  • Whether art is for sale or not, each artist must fill out a control sheet (PDF) to keep track of their artwork in the show.
  • Each piece of artwork in the art show auction must have a bid sheet (PDF) attached to it, and the information on that bid sheet must match the control sheet.
  • Each artist with print shop items must have a print shop control sheet (PDF).
  • These sheets are available for pre-printing from this page or in person at the con.
  • For artists with many pieces of art, we strongly recommend that you print and fill out your bid, control and/or print shop sheets before the con. This will make your step up much quicker!
  • Only the artist or agent checking art in can check unsold art out again, unless otherwise stated clearly to the art show coordinator (or designated subhead) at check-in.

Contact

Email the art show department head at with questions.