General Information for Artists

The What The Fur Art Show is for display and sales of art, usually originals, as well as limited edition prints;  you'll also find 3-D art such as sculpture, jewelry and other items.  We also have our Charity Auction items on which you can bid.

Artists can have up to two 4'x4' panels for hanging of matted art.  They can also have half-tables for 3D art.  Each is $15 dollars.

Payment must be made along with submitting the Artists Reservation Form. No space can be guaranteed without payment. It is preferred that Artists Reservation form and Pre-registration form be submitted together.

Payment method can be cheque or Paypal.  In addition to payment, you must send in the Art Show Reservation Form.  This can be printed with your cheque, emailed as a filled Text file to the art show


If you have any questions beyond what is on this page, please contact our Art Show director at [email protected]

Art Show Status

General Rules
  • Cameras, camcorders, knapsacks, bag/bag purses, briefcases and other large items must be checked at the desk.
  • Only registered convention attendees with a valid badge may bid on art and participate in the auction.
  • All bidders must register at the Art Show Desk and show proper ID and convention badge.

Auction

There will be a voice auction Saturday (time to be confirmed later) on all pieces which received four (4) or more bids; you should be present at auction to defend your bid. If there are no bids at auction, the art will go to the highest amount on the bid sheet.

What The Fur will deduct a 10% fee from all final auction sales prices. This is standard fan-run convention procedure.

Artists Information
  • An artist can designate someone to be their agent on-site to handle and hang their art, and must include written permission with their Reservation Form along with the agent’s name, address and contact information. Agents must be registered with the convention, except in the case of mail-in art sent to a Canadian agent.
  • Artists (or agents) must fill a Control Sheet for all the pieces entered in the show, and a bid sheet for each piece, listing the name of the piece, the type of art, artist and artist number, and minimum bid amount. The abbreviation NFS is to be used for pieces Not For Sale, and the bid space crossed out with a blue highlighter (con staff will have some on hand). It is strongly encouraged to fill out the forms before showing at the convention to speed up the check-in process.
  • Artists are reminded that the maximum rating of the convention is 14A, as defined by the Ontario Board of Cinema Ratings. Non-gratuitous and non-sexual violence may be shown, subject to approval by staff. No depictions of visible genitalia or copulation may be shown. Please use your judgment, and remember that a wide range of people, including families, will be attending the convention and visiting the art show. If you have any questions regarding an art piece’s validity to the guidelines, please feel free to contact the art show director.
  • All art put on panels must be matted and ready to hang. The only exception is for canvas pieces; if you have any, contact the art show staff for details.
  • Artists (or agents) cannot bid on the pieces they place in the show. If this occurs, the piece will be removed from the show and returned to the artist or agent.
  • Once an item is entered, it cannot be withdrawn, or the conditions of sale altered (such as minimum bid), without consent from the Art Show Director.
  • If the artwork is a print, the form and bid sheet must indicate that it is a print, the print run and the number in the run. No more than one print of a series may be put up in the show for bidding.
  • Artists may hang advertising for their services alongside their art since they rented the space.

Non-Canadian Artists

Upon registering for the Art Show, non-Canadian artists will be contacted with details on how to properly import their art. It is important to note that we cannot predict how border guards will act, or what rules they will decide to follow, but we believe that at the most, there may be a payment demanded equivalent to the GST (7%) on the Canadian value of the artwork (minimum bid). There should not be a need for a Work Permit. In any case, do not simply show up at the border on your way over without contacting us first, or we will not be able to help you.

If you are arriving from outside the USA or Mexico, please contact What The Fur so that we can assist you with your specific customs and tax situation.

Bidder Guidelines
  • Bidders must be registered convention attendees, and must fill a Bidder Registration Card at the Art Show Desk, acknowledging that they agree with the Bidding Rules.
  • Remember that a bid is a legal obligation to buy the art at that price. Do not bid more than you can pay for, and be prepared to be the winning bidder on all of the pieces you bid for. Bidders who do not show up on Sunday to pick up their purchases will be contacted by the convention. Those who refuse to honour their agreement may be banned from What The Fur in the future.
  • Payment may be made in cash, money order, travellers’ cheque, or certified cheque with ID. You must pick up and pay for your own purchases and bring proof of ID. What The Fur will file criminal fraud charges if you try to pass a bad cheque.
  • Purchase of the art does not entitle you to copyrights. The artist still retains all copyrights on the art and you cannot reproduce the art without clear consent from the artist.