Artists Alley

Welcome creators and patrons of the arts! The Artists' Alley is open to artists of all levels to make, share, and sell their work. Whether you are a professional illustrator for a living, or this is your first time showing anyone those drawings you've been hiding in your sketchbook, you are encouraged to join in and get creative!

Artist Alley Sign Up Policy:

Artist Alley sign up will be switching over to a digital sign up. Each artist will be able to sign up online via Google Forms with information about themselves and a little bit of their business so we can decide if the Artist Alley is the best place for you. Due to the change in venue this year we will be operating a little differently. Everyone will be in the same room and we will be offering multiple shifts to maximize the amount of artist visibility!

Signup link:
((coming soon)) 

Telegram group for Announcements:
((coming soon)) 

You MUST be in the telegram group to be considered for the artist Alley. 

What is required to sell in the Artist Alley?

We know that artists have lots of diverse media from Illustration, pottery, sculpture, fursuits and more. We have a short list of requirements.

  • Bring an example of your work.  We all want to see your creative skills and capabilities. Past works, prints and portfolios work well for this. 
  • Please send us a picture of your set up. Not all setups will fit in the space we are allotted. We will have to be selective.
  • Clearly state prices. Price sheets and individual ticketing of items for clear and transparent pricing is key to good sales and further commissions.
  • Bring your own art. We understand you can't make every sticker or print of your art; but if you rely on mass manufactured products or bulk third party distributors for your sales, we strongly encourage you to apply for our Dealers Den for next year.
  • When setting up your display you may not sell more than three categories of items with three variations of items. (For example pins, plushies, and prints. Each totaling no more than nine in number.)You may have examples with more items but not have them on site.))

What is the deadline for the Artist Alley sign-up?

Artist Alley sign ups will open October 31,2025 and close on November 31, 2025.  We will have a wait list for those who miss the sign up window and wish to participate. These will be chosen on a first come first serve basis.

If you have signed up and are a no show for your table, the Artist Alley staff will open to wait list artists thru social media announcements. There will be a half hour wait before we start calling waiting list artists.  If an artist is a no show for 2 or more days without prior warning you will not be allowed to table next year.

How will Artist Alley work this year?

 We will be working in two shifts! There will be a morning shift and an afternoon shift. Each will occupy the same space. This is so some artists that need to only work mornings or afternoons can, and so we can feature more artists. There will be a limit to only signing up for three time slots of five time slots available for the whole weekend. We will work hard to accommodate as many slots as possible. If the number of people applying for that slot exceeds the number of seats available it will turn into a raffle.

Getting a seat:

  • Sign up online on the form.
  • Join Telegram Group
  •  On Saturday and Sunday, any artists who have signed up, but were not seated in the Alley on the previous day, will be given priority before drawing the lottery for the day.
  • Tablespaces per artist are approximately 2.5' x 3', and only the assigned artist is allowed in that space.
  • You will be sharing a 6-foot table with another artist. Please plan accordingly and be courteous to your neighbor.

** Anyone who missed the online sign up window will be added to the overflow list**

Rules

  1. You must be actively working on art while seated. This includes art forms that can take commissions, such as traditional/digital drawing, crochet, cross-stitch, and any others that you can take active requests. Other artists want a seat in the Alley, so make the most of your time there.
  2. Sales of Mass manufactured goods, NFT’s, Proxy sellers and AI Art is not allowed. We recommend considering a table in the Dealers Den for retail items. The Artist Alley is a space for live commissions and art created "on the fly." Completed commissions for pickup or display examples are permitted. Small batch items like pins, buttons, and stickers are permitted in moderation, provided they are of your original design, and you are actively working on other art pieces while seated. This is up to the discretion of the Alley staff, so please abide by their final word regarding any gray-area items.
  3. Do your taxes! Understand that doing business in the Alley means you are legally required to file your taxes with the state of Michigan. Relevant tax documents will be provided to you for your convenience, but MCFC will not be held liable for the tax obligations of any artist who chooses to conduct business in the Alley. If you prefer one to fill out in PDF format you may also go to the Michigan.gov website and look up the Concessionaire’s Sales Tax Return, which is form 5089.
  4. If you need to leave, check in and out with the Alley staff. You are allowed to leave your seat for 15 minutes at a time. If you are gone for longer than that, we will give your spot to any artist who may be on standby.
  5. No napping at your table. Please consider checking out of the Alley and taking a nap in your room so other artists have a chance to exhibit in the Alley.
  6. There is NO electricity for artists in the Alley. We will not be able to supply you with power. Please make sure you charge your devices ahead of time or bring a battery pack.
  7. A laminator and badge hole punch will be available to artists and located with the alley staff. Free to use at your discretion, but please provide your own laminate sheets.
  8. You must take all of your belongings with you when you leave for the day. Please leave your space clean and tidy for the next artist or panel event. MCFC is not responsible for any lost or forgotten items, so keep track of your belongings!
  9. Be conscientious of your neighbors. Please mind your noise, food, smells, sights, space, and social graces while in the Alley. If you are disturbing the room in some way, you will be kindly notified. If the problem persists after the warning, you will be removed from the Alley.
  10. NSFW and adult work are permitted. However, as convention space per the MCFC Code of Conduct is considered to be PG-13, please conceal with stickers and/or clearly mark folios and binders containing adult themes as a courtesy to your customers and fellow attendees. It's just good manners!
  11. By accepting a seat in the Artist Alley, you agree to abide by these rules. Adherence to these rules will be enforced by the Alley staff at their best discretion.

Please help contribute to a peaceful, productive atmosphere by following the rules and upholding the spirit of the Alley. Please come to us if you have any questions or concerns; we can help!

Revised August 19th 2025