2013

We are now accepting exhibitor applications for MICE 2013, a two-day event September 28 – 29th.  We are no longer offering tables on a first-come, first-serve basis, and have revised much of our registration process.  It’s all at our Exhibitor page.

Here’s everything you need to know for MICE 2013. As always, the best way to stay in the loop would be to join our mailing list.

- MICE 2013 is a TWO DAY SHOW! For the first time, we’re running exhibitor space and programming all weekend (September 28-29, 2013) We’ll have travel information, including hotel options, soon.

- We’ll be accepting exhibitor applications April 14th through April 26th. No need to storm the gates, crash our site, and miss your chance. This is not a first-come, first-serve process. You’ll have a good window of opportunity.

- You will be notified of your applicant status by June 1, 2013.

- Each table space is $50. Table space is 3 ft. Full 6 ft. tables are available for groups of 2 or more.

- 75% of tables will be “curated,” and 25% will be determined by lottery.

- Your table space must contain at least 50% comics. It is a comics show, after all.

- The application will ask you to supply a web site where your comics are posted, or to email samples.

- If you only have 1 or 2 comics to sell, MICE will also be offering shared space. We want as much new talent as possible, so if you’re just getting started this is a great way to get your work out to the public.

- Volunteering is a really awesome (and really appreciated) way to get involved if you don’t want to table. We need more volunteers than ever as MICE continues its unstoppable growth! Send an email to micevolunteers@gmail.com.

Wow! MICE 2012 has come and gone, and what a jam-packed day: Panels exploring a variety of art and interests, hands-on workshops (and one devoted to hand stretching!), a live battle of the cartoonists, and on-the-spot portfolio reviews. And those were just the special events! That’s not even touching on the main attraction: A comics fair with over 150 exhibitors – writers and artists, individuals and collectives, creators from all around New England and beyond.

We saw over 1200 attendees pass through the festival doors! This third annual show was most popular one yet (starting with the exhibitor sign-up back in June, when our tables sold out within 3 hours of registration opening). Many visitors to MICE told us that it was their first time at any kind of comic show and that they were surprised at the range of possibilities. This is why we love our fest’s free admission: It opens up the world of comics to anyone, even people just passing by on the street who want to indulge their curiosity.

And MICE let them explore a wide range, from seasoned pro artists and graphic novelists to happy newbies selling their very first hand-stapled minicomics. This reflects another value behind the festival and its organizers in Boston Comics Roundtable: It’s important to us to support indie comics creators of any level. We aim to showcase highly-polished productions and provide an opportunity for fledgling creators to get their comics out there and learn the ropes.

Starting this year, the day actually featured not one, but two great comics events. One flight of stairs up from MICE, educators spent the morning participating in NECAC, the New England Comic Arts in the Classroom symposium, sponsored by Lesley’s Art Education program. With workshops designed to support and enhance the use of comics as a classroom tool, NECAC brought a whole new dimension to MICE – one we hope will continue and grow in coming years.

Thanks to Michael Gianfrancesco and Maureen Bakis for organizing NECAC, and thanks to Robert Shreefter of Lesley’s Art Education program for making it possible at Lesley.

A huge THANK YOU! to everyone involved with MICE, and especially:

• Our guest of honor, R. Sikoryak (the festival’s first!)
• Our organizers, the Art Institute of Boston and Boston Comics Roundtable
• Our host, Lesley University
• Our sponsors, digBoston and Lesley University
• The MICE organizational team – energetic volunteers!
• All of our exhibitors, panelists, and workshop teachers
• Writers Ethan Gilsdorf and Chad Parenteau for their pre-expo coverage
• And finally, all of the attendees! Thanks for visiting and making this a memorable day!

So what’s next for MICE? Well, our art show is still on display in Lesley University, free of charge; stop by and check out original comic artwork from our exhibitors. We’ll continue posting feedback and photos on our Twitter account, @MassMICE. If you’re in the Boston area and want to keep up on local comics events and the indie comics community, we also recommend following Boston Comics Roundtable on Twitter, @BostonComics. And as for us, we’re going to kick back and read all the excellent comics we picked up at MICE 2012 … and start brainstorming on MICE 2013!

Photos and reports from around the web

digBoston’s Fotobom pictures

Retro Rocketer’s photos from the art show reception party and MICE 2012

Mike Lynch’s MICE sketchbook

Video coverage by Unregular Radio’s Ashley Bottoms

Photojournalist Christopher Weigl’s day at MICE with cartoonist Bob Flynn

We Got Issues coverage by Chad Parenteau: Scenes from MICE and “Comics and Medicine” panel writeup

Jason Viola meets a new friend at MICE

Randall Drew’s MICE report

Dave Eisenberg’s art and photo slideshow for BostInno