Bent-Con returns to the Marriott in Burbank!

Hotel Reservations with the Marriott Burbank are now available!

As an added incentive BENT-CON will extend a courtesy to the first 100 Attendee Badge registrants who ALSO register Room Reservations with the Marriott Burbank will receive an ADDITIONAL equivalent Badge for every original badge purchased.

What this means is that YOU will have an opportunity to SAVE $$$ for Badges with your Friends!

Purchase a Day or Weekend Badge AND make hotel reservations with the Marriott Burbank?
Then you’ll receive an ADDITIONAL Day or Weekend Badge for FREE!

Purchase 2 Day or Weekend Badges AND make hotel reservations with the Marriott Burbank?
Then you’ll receive TWO more Day or Weekend Badges for FREE!

Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too?

To be eligible all you have to do is purchase your badge(s) and make a room reservation with the Marriott Burbank.

Get your Badges and make your Hotel Reservations TODAY!

Romance (and sex) is coming to Bent-Con 2013.

The Writers, Romance and Rainbows Convergence (WRR), celebrating LGBT romance and erotica novels and ebooks, will be held as part of Bent-Con 2013, The Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror convention for LGBT fans and their allies. Both events happen at the Burbank Airport Marriott, November 8th-10th 2013.

“We’re excited about the prospects of having this event with a such a growing and dynamic convention,” said WRR Co-Organizer DL Warner. “There are LGBT friendly conferences throughout the year, but they often cannot accommodate the rising numbers of indie authors and small publishers as anything other than regular guests,” she continued. “By partnering with Bent-Con, we’ll be able to provide a much more diverse and interesting experience for our guests.”

Now in it’s forth year, Bent-Con promotes, encourages, celebrates and appreciates LGBT and LGBT-friendly contributions to the comic-book, gaming, Science Fiction Fantasy and Horror mediums of artists, writers, creators, publishers, directors, actors, producers and fans, be they works targeted directly to LGBT audiences or the larger realm of underground and mainstream pop-culture as a whole.

The Bent-Con experience was an inspiration to set up a similar event for novelists. Warner and Co-Organizer Kimberly Hunter approached Bent-Con about partnering up, adding their community into the already impressive mix.

“It’s amazing the overlap between the two communities,” Bent-Con President and founder Sean Z. Maker said. “Yaoi and anime is incredibly popular with our existing attendees. Many of the LGBT romance stories being produced include vampires, zombies, magic and sci-fi themes. Putting both of these communities in touch should allow many new discoveries by attendees and collaborations by artists and writers. It’s all pop art!”

By partnering with Bent-Con, WRR is able to offer very reasonably priced booth space for that indie authors on the most shoe string of budgets can afford to sell their books in a location with a large LGBT and yaoi friendly community to buy them.

Plus, a new programming track has been created for the event, allowing WRR creators and participants to hold discussions and seminars around issues unique to their creations — as well as participating in other tracks where interests and ideas overlap.

In addition to the vendor space and panel programming, WRR will have two fun events: a cover model contest and a formal dance. This is in addition to the already packed Bent-Con schedule that includes costume karaoke, pool parties and living drawing events.

“For one weekend in November, struggling authors will get to leave that darkened room with that flickering monitor and celebrate being a writer,” said Warner. “ Hopefully with this Bent-Con partnership, WRR participants will connect with their fans and find many new ones.”

BENT-CON will be hosting its 3rd annual Pop-Up Gallery Exhibition that will run the entire length of the convention. This exhibition will be juried by a panel of special guests with awards in various categories open to both professional and emerging artists alike.

BENT-CON Pop-Up Gallery is seeking submissions that are suggested to relate to the overall theme of the convention: “Brave New World” and/or pay tribute to convention honorees (those with significant milestones or passed away in 2013) and keep with the essence of the convention.

General Information and Instructions:

Themes: It is suggested that any one or more can be used, but are not necessary to have the work admitted into the show.
HOWEVER, convention themed artwork may be given more prominent placement in the gallery itself. How you work it in is up to you!

Convention Theme: ”Brave New World”

Tributes: 2013 tribute to convention honorees who have passed away in 2013, have come out of the closet, or significantly contributed to the representation of the LGBTQ community.

Milestones: 2013 tribute to convention honorees with significant milestones (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.).

Artist’s Suggestions: If you have a theme you would like to have considered for inclusion feel free to drop us a line.

Eligibility: BENT-CON Pop-Up Gallery is open to any artist submitting original two-dimensional works created following the convention’s “Brave New World” theme, or as a tribute piece to an honoree or milestone (see description above). Professionals, emerging artists, and students are encouraged to submit.

Media: Open to any media that will be presented in a two-dimensional format that includes, but is not limited to, painting, illustration, printmaking, photography, drawing, graphic design, etc. Unfortunately, we WILL NOT be accepting three-dimensional art works.

Work Size: 2’ by 3’ maximum size. 11” by 17” preferred.

Entry Requirements: Submit completed entry form along with attached images of examples of work and/or a web address where work examples can be viewed.

Wall Ready: Bent-con will provide framing for the show. Please keep the art as ready for framing as possible. Artwork that does not fit into the standard frame sizes will NOT be resized or matted and runs the risk of not being shown in the exhibition. If you tell us a size, make sure it is actually that size. Remember that we will only have standard frame sizes available to us (5”x7”, 8”x10”, 11”x14”, 11”x17”, 12”x18”, 16”x20”, 18”x24”, 20”x28”, 24”x36”).

Shipping: The artist pays to ship the artwork to Bent-Con. Bent-Con will pay for return shipping to the artist, unless the submitted artwork is not for sale/does not sell.

Exhibition Timeline: 5:00pm on Friday, November 8th, 2013 to 7:00pm on Sunday, November 10th, 2013.

Entries Due: DIGITAL SUBMISSION DATE – FRI, SEPT 6TH, 2013 BY 11:59PM

ACCEPTED WORKS SUBMISSION DATE – FRI, OCT 4TH, 2013

CLICK HERE To APPLY!!

Digital Submissions:
Digital images and entry forms due (sent via email) by: 11:59pm on Friday, September 6, 2013.

Send only completed entry form(s) and digital images of work (jpgs @ 300dpi).

DO NOT SEND ORIGINALS.

Again… DO NOT SEND ORIGINALS for this part of the selection process.

Accepted Works Submissions:
Send original artwork in by Friday, October 4th, 2013 to:
WEST HOLLYWOOD MAIL SERVICE
c/o Bent-Con
7985 Santa Monica Blvd., Ste 373, West Hollywood, CA. 90046

Mailed entries should be sent to this address. Please ensure that you take necessary steps so that your artwork arrives by Friday, October 4th, 2013. THIS IS NOT A POSTMARK DATE. The artist may choose to hand deliver their artwork(s) to the Gallery Committee on Friday, November 8th, 2013 of the convention by 1:00pm (NO LATE HAND-DELIVERED ARTWORK WILL BE ACCEPTED IF YOU CHOOSE THIS OPTION). If you choose to hand deliver, you must also ensure that you have someone to pick up the artwork(s) by 8pm on Sunday, November 10th, 2013 at the end of the convention. Hand-delivered/Pick-up arrangements must be made by the deadline of the Accepted Works Submission date (Friday, October 4th, 2013) via email and/or in a written statement sent along with your mailed piece(s).

Images: In an effort to conserve resources BENT-CON Pop-Up Gallery accepts only digital images and entry forms for consideration. The Gallery will retain the submitted images of accepted artwork and reserves the right to use the images in publications and gallery publicity. Online entry form required.

Jury and Curators/Selection Process: BENT-CON Pop-Up Gallery’s selection process involves a two-part system. Submission DOES NOT guarantee entry. Curators will make selections, then decide category for placement (emerging artist vs. professional). Pieces in show will be judged by a “Gaylebrity” jury panel.

Entry Fee: There is a $10 entry fee required by each artist submitting accepted works. This will help cover return shipping fees if your piece does not sell. The $10 entry fee is refunded if your piece does sell. The $10 entry fee is required by ALL artists submitting accepted works, even those that are hand delivering their artwork(s). Online digital payments are required (NO CASH or CHECKS).

Notification to Artist: Artist will be notified of status of acceptance by e-mail or telephone by FRI, SEPT 13, 2013.
Delivery: WEST HOLLYWOOD MAIL SERVICE
BENT-CON
7985 Santa Monica Blvd
Ste 373,West Hollywood, CA. 90046

Reception: 5:00pm, Friday November 8th, 2013.

Exhibit or Event Ends: 7:00pm, Sunday November 10th, 2013.

Pickup Artwork by: 8:00pm, Sunday November 10th, 2013.

Publicity: Bent-Con 2013 Pop-Up Gallery Exhibition will be publicized along with the larger convention as a whole.

Sales: Bent-Con will take 33% of sale price. Please calculate this into your Asking Price.

(Example: your piece is tagged for a sale price of 200 dollars. It sells, and you receive $134 dollars and Bent-Con receive $66.)

Auction: Pieces declared by the artist as Auction Pieces are considered donations to Bent-Con.
All money generated from sales of Auction Pieces will go towards convention costs.

Awards: Sunday November 10th, 2013. Time: TBA.

Calendar:
September 6th, 2013: Submission Form/Digital image(s) due date by 11:59PM.

September 13th, 2013: Curators’ selection notifications sent.

October 4th, 2013: Original Piece(s) of accepted work(s) mailing due date.

Friday November 8th, 2013 at 1:00pm: Hand-off entries due at show

Friday November 8th, 2013 at 5:00pm: Bent-Con Preview Night/Gallery Reception

Friday November 8th, 2013, Times TBA: Bent-Con 2013 – Day 1

Saturday November 9th, 2013, Times TBA: Bent-Con 2013 – Day 2

Sunday November 10th, 2013, Times TBA: Bent-Con 2013 – Day 3

Sunday November 10th, 2013, Time TBA: Gallery Award Ceremony

Sunday November 10th, 2013, 7pm: Gallery Closes

Sunday November 10th, 2013, 8pm: Gallery Pick-Up Closes

Contact: salvador@bent-con.org

Rules for Entries: Submissions depicting certain illegal activities (child pornography, et.al.) will not be accepted. Final decision is left to Curators. Feel free to ask if you are not certain of your content.

Disclaimer: Bent-con and its agents do not accept any liability for artwork or items submitted to the Bent-Con 2013 Pop-up Gallery Show. Submitting artist assumes all risks.

Postage: Submitting artist assumes all costs for shipping their artwork(s) to the gallery show. Bent-Con will pay return postage with $10 entry fee required by each artist submitting accepted works for those pieces that do not sell or are not for sale.

Interested in holding your own presentation at this year’s BENT-CON? BENT-CON is gaining a track record for its AMAZING panels created by the community that enjoys them.  After last year’s success with the breadth of panels presented at BENT-CON 2012, we decided to continue in the spirit of community, offering YOU the opportunity to once again, host panels covering the myriad depths of our rich and diverse popular culture.

This is YOUR opportunity to share and express yourself with the things you have an interest in or are passionate about at this year’s BENT-CON celebration!

Here are a some examples of what we had during the 2012 celebration:

WOMEN MAKE (QUEER) GENRE
Many of the depictions of queer characters in mainstream genre fiction come thanks to the effort of one group: women. Female writers have done an incredible job bringing gay characters to the screen and to the page, depicting our lives as part of the same extraordinary adventures alongside mainstream counterparts. 

WHO GOES THERE? LGBTQs AND GENRE TELEVISION
Discussing various television shows that have highlighted gay characters and how their presence has changed over the decades.

JOYSTICK HEROES: GAY GAMERS’ LOVE-AFFAIR WITH THE RPG
Join the boys from Silly Frags and Gayme Bar podcasts as they talk about gays and their fascination with video game RPGs. Look at how we’ve been out, proud and same-sex loving in video games.

RACE AND CLASS IN COMICS
Queer comic book characters have finally started coming out of the closet and some are even getting married! With such strides taking place for the LGBTQ community, we’d like to examine how other minorities have fared over time. How has race and class impacted characters in comics? How many comic book characters can you name that are People of Color (POC) and working class [besides Static Shock]? Is there a reason why there aren’t any Queer, working class, People of Color characters that are also superheroes? Join us for this lively discussion as we examine race, class, and sexuality in comics.

UN-GAYS IN COMICS: NOT-LGBT CREATORS ON THEIR WORK
This panel examines those non-queer, non-LGBT people working in the industry today. What’s it like to not be gay and working in the industry? What special challenges do not-LGBT people experience on the job? Are they not-not-out? How does not being LGBT affect their creative endeavors? What advice do they have for both un-gays and gays alike, seeking to work in this wide and diverse creative field? Come join us for a spirited — and very tongue in-cheek — discussion.

Do you have something equally cool in mind? If you are a professional, fan, or organization who wishes to present something you’re particularly passionate about at BENT-CON 2013–come join the celebration!

 APPLY To Host A Panel, TODAY!

ATTENTION! BENT-CON 2013 is officially offering ALL Badges and Exhibitor Registration at DISCOUNT PRICES until JULY 31st, 2013, 11:59PM PST. 
That means all of YOU — Attendees, Professionals and Exhibitors — can now take advantage of this special going on RIGHT NOW.

So, what are you waiting for?

Go Grab Your Badges TODAY!