Artist Alley tables are intended for Anime or Japanese inspired original artwork, crafts, fan art, original comic, doujinshi, and fanzines. Any applications for a business selling videos, software, or any mass produced, resale items, books or items not relevant to the theme of the convention will not be considered. The convention reserves the right to prohibit the sale of any merchandise or service that they feel is inappropriate.

These rules apply to every member of your artists group! If one member of your group signs up with something that disqualifies them, the entire group is disqualified.

• All artists and artist helpers MUST be registered and have a badge for NDK. Badges must be worn at all times while on the con floor. Artists will have two badges included with their table.
• Artists are expected to be open and available at their table during AA operating hours as listed above. We expect you to be at your table by 9:30am on Saturday and 10:30am on Sunday at the very latest. If something comes up or you know you won’t be able to make it for one of the days, please contact the Artist Alley Area Heads as soon as possible. Note: Early closures for the Cosplay Contest are acceptable.
• No-Shows: Artists who do not check in to their tables by 10am on Saturday will have their space sold to other artists, and will not be welcome back. This is only for check in, not set up. If you are delayed for any reason, please contact the Artist Alley Area Heads as soon as you can.
• Please inform the Artists Alley Area Heads of any business name change. You will need to inform us so we can correctly list you in our Program Book and our website.PG-13 and 18+ Materials.
• There is a new 18 + section located inside the Exhibitors Hall. However, outside of this space, 18+ items are strictly prohibited.  18+ materials include: any kind of pornography or otherwise excessive sexuality (hentai, yaoi, yuri,) excessive gore, or excessive violence. If you are found to be displaying any sort of 18+ material outside of the designated 18+ area, you will be warned once to put it away. Further violations will result in a permanent ban. The acceptability of any product is the sole discretion of the Artist Alley Area head.
• There is a strict PG-13+ rule in Artist Alley. Artists are allowed to bring PG-13 material, but due to the family-friendly nature of the convention, it may not be openly displayed. Suggestive images, mild fanservice, artistic nudity, and the like, must have black sensor boxes over any exposed sexual areas, bare breasts, panties, etc. No cursing or inappropriate language please, there is no reason to have art or buttons displayed where these are involved. If you want to do so in a commission that’s ok, but it’s not ok elsewhere. If you are found displaying any sort of PG-13+ art without black boxes or proper censoring, you will be warned twice; further violations will result in a ban. If you have any questions about an image please ask with at least 2 weeks prior notice to the convention.
• Artists should proceed with caution if there are scented items on your table. Please do your best to keep these sealed as well as you can. This is not only respectful to your fellow artists, but also to attendees and staff that may be sensitive to smells.

• Nan Desu Kan is a 501 c4 Nonprofit organization dedicated to Japanese Art, Animation and Culture. All items for sale in Artist Alley MUST be relevant to this theme or relevant to Japanese culture, or the interest of anime fandom. For example, if you wish to sell work from your own comic please provide links so we can ensure they fall within the rules or mass produced books will not be added into the lottery. However, items such as chibi crocheted cupcake plushies, which are relevant to fandom (kawaii/pop culture) are acceptable.
• Absolutely NO AI artwork is allowed.
• All work sold in Artist Alley must be original artwork, crafts, or fan art. Stolen, Redrawn or plagiarized work is strictly forbidden in Artist Alley. Copying and attempting to sell any existing official art or fanart, regardless of what medium it is copied onto, is recognized as theft by the state of Colorado. This includes but is not limited to copying existing art and drawing in a different background.
• The name of a series and/or character CANNOT be included on any product, display, packaging; this goes for both English and Japanese. No art or packaging containing these names can be sold in Artists Alley. The same goes for using licensed names, characters or series on a display.
• Artists are also not allowed to sell any kind of art or product with any kind of official logo. This includes Key chains, buttons, badges or any other item. Note: The use of fabric pre-printed with official character artwork or logos is also strictly forbidden, and will get you immediately disqualified.  If you have questions on any fabric or pre-printed media, please ask.
• All products in Artist Alley must be made by you, or someone in your group. No official/commercially made merchandise allowed. 
• Products released officially either in the US or Japan cannot be sold in Artists Alley. We want work from you, not someone else.
• NO FOOD or drink (both homemade or commercially produced) products of any kind are allowed to be sold in Artists Alley. Sorry, this is convention center policy.
• All items for sale must be approved prior to the convention. If you want to sell something new that was not included in your application, then you have to get it approved before the convention. Having items on your table that have not been approved before the convention will result in a warning, and you could be asked to put the product away. This restriction goes for contest winners and lottery winners.
• Artists are free to arrange their table space as they see fit so long as it follows fire code. Artists may supply their own tables, racks and chairs at no additional cost. Artists must stay within the space that is allotted to them; you may not let your table or display items bleed into another artist’s space or the walkways between tables. NDK reserves the right to approve the setup including TVs, speakers, tables, etc. Also, staff is allowed to restrict what can be heard and viewed outside of your area.
• Crochet/Knitted pieces are allowed, but must get approval prior to the convention to make sure they are not from copyrighted material (like woobles), too close to copyrighted material or unauthorized patterns to sell.
• Fabric: many craft items are made with fabric, this is ok for the most part but there are some restrictions. Fabric containing licensed images such as: Disney, Pokemon, Hubble, Hello Kitty, My Little Pony, etc are not allowed. This is the same as using official merchandise and altering it.

All tables are equally divided between each of the 4 categories listed below. If there are any leftover tables from one category, they are then divided equally between the other categories.

Printed Art: Art presented in traditional mediums of pen, pencil, paint, digital art. Artwork in this category is primarily presented on paper, canvas, metal etc. This includes art prints, stickers, keychains, bookmarks, books, etc. 

Printed Art Plus Merchandise:  Includes everything in the Printed Art category above, but also includes other forms of art printed on pencil bags, mouse pads, T-shirts, and other art-related merchandise. 

Handcrafted: This category is for people who create art in a 3D physical form: resin, fabric, woodcraft, textile art, yarn art, figurines, sculpture, jewelry, etc. Please note that entries in this category still must be relevant to Japanese art, animation, and culture. 

Hybrid: This category includes everything from the three categories above. Tables in this category have a wide variety of items to purchase, and perhaps have equal parts of each category above. Items such as blankets, pillow cases, and pillows with your art printed on it will put you in Hybrid.

18+: This category includes all 18+ styles of artwork such as nudity, sexual activities, gore and violence. Anything depicting excessive gore, non-consensual acts, and minors are not allowed at any point on the convention floor, even in the 18+. (You may be moved to this category if you have multiple 18+ on your website/social media unless otherwise noted on your application)

If you are unsure what category you fall under, select unsure when you apply and we will put your application in the right category.

If you are worried about what might disqualify you automatically from getting into NDK’s Artist Alley, please see below:

• AI artwork 
• Redraw challenges
• Excessively religious, political, or gory
• Racism – Please see NDK’s Harassment policy https://www.nandesukan.org/policies/anti-harrassment-policy/ 
• Application not being fully filled out
• Official merchandise
• Work that is not your own
• Work that can be linked to an official product or image
• Use of official logos and fonts
• Applying as a group on multiple applications

If you have any questions regarding this list, and need further information, please contact Artist Alley with your questions in advance before you apply.

The application is located at the bottom of this page. Keep Scrolling!

A:   In the interest of objectivity and fairness, NDK chooses Artist Alley Tables by random lottery.

All artist submissions must follow NDK’s Artwork Requirements. If the artists’ material qualifies, they are placed into the lottery of the category they chose to apply for. Our lottery is powered by a random number generator for complete transparency and objectivity.

Artists who qualify for the lottery, but are not picked to have a table during lottery selection are automatically placed on the waitlist.

A: Prices for NDK 2025:

1. Beginner Table, $210, two badges. (First Year Artists, or 5+ years of not selling at NDK)
2. Single Table, Returning Artist, $ 260, includes two Artist Alley badges. 
3. Double Table, Returning Artist, $465, includes two Artist Alley badges
4. Pro Artist Booth, 10×10 space, $565, includes two tables and two Artist Alley badges

Extra badges for AA staff can be purchased at the Exhibitor’s hall table for $55 each.

What NDK will provide per table: 

Single table:   1  6×2 table, 2 folding chairs, 1 badge
Double table:    2  6×2 tables next to each other, 2 folding chairs, 2 badges
Pro Booth:   2  6×2 tables, 2 folding chairs, 2 badges, you may set your tables as you like within the 10×10 space.

What the artist will have to provide for their table: 

• Table coverings
• Your own decorations and set up
• Food and water
• Power can be purchased closer to the convention. Please request it if you need it in the application. Otherwise please bring a battery pack.
• Consistent internet connection. NDK will not be providing this to the artists.

Pro-booths may purchase a third table for $100.

A: You do not pay for your table or space in Artist Alley until the contracts are emailed to you (within a month of the lottery). You will have to print, fill out the contract and scan it back in as a pdf or image file. You will have about a month to make your payment and return the form, if you fail to do so your space will be given to someone on the waiting list.

Note: if possible please name the images/file with your business name and the year.

A: Yes, when you are emailed your contract you will also receive a link to the Colorado event license page, you will have to print, fill out, and mail it with a check or money order. Once you get your license back you MUST email us a copy.

A: It is one application per group, if multiple people submit applications for the same artists all will be automatically disqualified.

A: All tables come with two artist alley badges. If you have additional table watchers, they must have an attendee badge and must have the approval from Artist Alley Staff Heads.

A: No. All tables are assigned and cannot be changed, even if the artist or guest isn’t currently at their table. If you attempt to take over another’s space you will have your badge punched and could get banned for life. If we move someone all parties will be contacted directly by the AA Area Heads.

A: If you have space that you aren’t going to use please ask for a smaller space. You cannot add friends from the waitlist to your group. If it is a new member to your already existing group then contact us ASAP so that it can be discussed in private before the convention. They will need to have their products approved before they are given the go ahead. Artists who miss the signup window cannot be added to any existing group. Sorry, we’re doing this to be fair to the artists on the waitlist.

A: No, once you send in your application you are stuck in that group for the lottery. You may however downsize your space at any time once you win it. Be aware that once you downsize your space you will not be able to get the larger space back.

A: No, doing so will get you disqualified.

A.Please review our auto disqualifications section. If you have items on your website that you are aware of that may count as an auto disqualification, but do not intend on selling these items at the convention, please add that to the notes of the application. If you have a question about those items, please contact Artist Alley with your concerns.

A: Yes! When we are two weeks out from the convention, an announcement will be made for the locations of the tables.

Note: requesting extra space, power, extra chairs, or placement in a certain area or next to someone does not guarantee that you will get it.  We only have so many areas certain requests can be filled and they go fast. All tables are assigned and cannot be changed.

A: You can leave your table set up at night when AA closes. The entire Exhibitors hall is locked overnight, but we recommend using a table covering for when you leave and taking your valuables and cash with you.

A: If a lotto winner drops or loses their space a new lottery is held. Example: a pro booth dropped, the remaining pro booths are rolled on and the winner fills the space.

Up to one month before the con: If a single and double tables open a new single table lottery is held by category up until a month before the con. Example: a craft category artist drops out; the waitlist craft category aritsts will be lotteried and the winner fills the space. 

One month before NDK or later:  Artist that also selected the last minute waitlist option will be lotteried and contacted, and they will have a week to respond or it goes to the next artist on the list.

Note: two weeks before con when all tables are full we will contact 1-2 artists from the last minute list and ask if they want to be the artist to fill in if someone does not show by Saturday of con, we will not accept anyone showing up asking on site.

A: No. Selling items belonging to someone else without approval or consent from both the maker and the Artists Alley Area Head, will get you and your entire group in trouble. There are special exceptions for collaborative work as well as Active Military; see the official rules for full details.

 Note: Guest Artists are allowed to have agents, anyone else found acting as someone’s agent without special permission and product approval will be banned.

 Note: Make sure to check the allowed and not allowed page to avoid getting disqualified, if one member signs up with something that will disqualify them then the entire group is out of the running, period.

18+ material is not allowed in Artist Alley. HOWEVER we do have a separate curtained off 18+ section in the official merchandise area, if you apply with 18+ material your application will be put into that category of the lottery.

A: Warnings are just that, warnings. It means you are breaking a rule. More than -two warnings- will result in a one year ban. Breaking some of the more serious rules, breaking enough rules to warrant more than a year ban, or not showing up at all without an explanation, results in every member of said group being banned from selling in AA for life.

Note: Warnings are pretty rare since everyone usually does a good job following the rules. Banning, even a year ban, is rarer still. Most of those banned are those that never show up to claim their table space at the con and never make contact again.