The refund window for KuroNekoCon 2020 has passed, effective July 26th, 2020. All remaining registration has been rolled over to KuroNekoCon 2021.
Automatic registration refund requests have been closed, if you wish to request a refund for your 2021 registration, please contact registration@kuronekocon.com per standard policy.
Past update, from May 13 2020:
It is with great sadness that we must announce the need to cancel KuroNekoCon 2020. The next KuroNekoCon will be held in summer of 2021.
The Board of Directors and Staff remained hopeful that there would be a way to host KuroNekoCon, but In the midst of a federally declared national emergency and public health concern, it has become apparent that successfully hosting a large event this year will not be possible. With the extension of Washington’s Stay Home Stay Healthy proclamation, it is clear that in order to prioritize the well being of both our community and our organization we must make the final difficult decision to cancel our in-person 2020 event.
Moving forwards, all 2020 KuroNekoCon Membership will be automatically rolled over to 2021. Those who cannot attend the 2021 dates, or wish to donate their registration costs to KuroNeko Cultural Association as a tax-deductible donation, can do so at kuronekocon.com/refund.
We are dedicated to our community, and while we may not be able to gather together in person this summer, we want to make sure that we continue to share our love for anime and Japanese culture by projecting our authentic, nerdy, diverse, and awesome selves. We are in the early stages of planning a one day, virtual event this summer, and in the meantime will continue to host smaller online contests, competitions, and games. Stay tuned to our website and social media for further announcements.
I want to thank each and every person who has supported KuroNekoCon thus far. The individuals who have attended our events and shared their enjoyment with others. The staff and volunteers that have poured hours of their personal time into our organization and continue to do so. The artists, exhibitors, guests, sponsors, and industry members that bring their expertise and insight. Each and every one of you make such a drastic impact on others just by being a part of this community. I sincerely hope that we can emerge from this as stronger and more innovative. KuroNekoCon would not have the strength to continue without all of you!
Makayla Miracle, Chair of the Board
On behalf of the Board of Directors and Staff of the KuroNeko Cultural Association
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How cancellation with affect specific convention roles
Artist Alley
Currently accepted 2020 artists will have their booth space and membership automatically transferred to 2021. If an artist is unable to attend our 2021 dates, they can email artistalley@kuronekocon.com to request a refund.
The waitlist will not be transferred to the new date. In January, any remaining table space will be available via a new artist alley application and jury process. New applicants and currently waitlisted artists may reapply at this time.
Exhibitors
Currently accepted 2020 Exhibitors will have their booth space and membership automatically transferred to 2021. If an exhibitor is unable to attend out 2021 dates, they can email exhibitors@kuronekocon.com to request a refund.
Volunteers
Our volunteer applications will remain open, and all accepted volunteer membership will be automatically transferred to 2021. If you are no longer able to volunteer for our new dates, please email operations@kuronekocon.com
Panelists
Our panel applications will remain open, and all submitted panels will be considered for 2021. If you do not wish to have your panel considered for 2021, please email programming@kuronekocon.com.
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Other FAQs:
Why not postpone to fall?
The decision of postponement relies on numerous outside factors, including venue and talent availability, budget and staffing hours, conflicting events, and overall timeline.
After careful deliberation we decided that the best way to ensure the longevity of our organization and its events would be to cancel our 2020 event and start planning for 2021 immediately.
How will my membership be transferred?
Your membership will be transferred automatically, and no action on your part is required.
How do I request a refund?
You may request a refund at our refund page.
Refunds will be processed in the order in which the requests are received.
Can I donate my badge to the convention instead of transferring it?
Absolutely! You can submit your registration as a donation at the same link mentioned above for requesting refunds.
We’ve made this option available after attendees asked if they could donate their 2020 badge cost to the convention and purchase a 2021 badge separately. We are humbled and grateful for these contributions. KuroNekoCon is a 100% volunteer run, certified 501(c)3 nonprofit. All donations are tax deductible and will go directly towards making KuroNekoCon 2021 the best it can be. A receipt of donation will be automatically sent to the email address on file.
How does this affect the Mascot Contest?
To be fair to those who have already submitted, the theme and deadlines for the mascot contest will remain the same.
The only change will be that the winner of the current mascot contest will have the opportunity to choose whether they want to use their prize free booth at KuroNekoCon 2021 (as originally advertised), or at KuroNekoCon 2022 (where their art will be used as the yearly mascot).
I have another question not covered here.
We would be happy to assist with additional information, please send us an email at info@kuronekocon.com
Past update, from March 30 2020:
To our KuroNekoCon family,
As the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve both locally, nationally, and globally, the Board of Directors of the KuroNeko Cultural Association are actively monitoring the progression of the virus and creating contingency plans in the unfortunate instance that COVID-19 continues to threaten public health into the summer months.
We encourage our community to follow prevention recommendations advised by your local governments, the Center for Disease Control, and the World Health Organization.
KuroNekoCon is currently still scheduled for July 17-19, 2020, but these are the steps we are currently implementing due to COVID-19:
Refund Window Extension
We will be extending our refund window effective immediately. All attendees may request a refund of their membership up to 2 weeks before the dates of the convention. Refunds will be processed in the order that they are received and will be issued no later than 2 weeks following the dates of the convention.
Staff Meetings
All staff meetings will be held online via Zoom video conferencing until further notice. Details for joining the meeting virtually can be found on our Get Involved Page.
In the event of a cancellation
In the unfortunate event of a cancellation, all 2020 KuroNekoCon Membership will be automatically rolled over to 2021. Those who cannot attend the 2021 convention may request a refund. Refunds will be processed in the order in which the requests are received. Refunds will be processed no later than 4 weeks following the dates of the convention, which will give our treasury staff time to process all transactions.
There are numerous factors that are weighed when considering a postponement or cancellation. The best place to send your requests and suggestions regarding COVID-19 is directly to our Chair of the Board at chair@kuronekocon.com. We will also be issuing a short update on our response to COVID-19 at the beginning of every staff meeting. Staff meetings have been moved to online-only, but are still open to the public. You’re welcome to attend via online voice or video chat and can find dates and links to the chats on The KuroNekoCon Calendar.
Please keep in mind that while we all have varying opinions, as stated in our group rules the Kuronekocon pages are devoted to civil on topic conversations. We strive for Kuronekocon and our pages to be a place to show the support and love our community needs now.
We are extremely proud of the love and support we have seen in our community. We urge you to continue to support artists, vendors, conventions, and other small businesses if you are able, and to show kindness and love towards others on social media. If you are in quarantine, we urge you to be positive and creative. Make art, write, dance, read, and watch anime.
The Staff of KuroNekoCon
Initial Post, from March 3 2020:
To our KuroNekoCon family,
COVID-19 is directly impacting our community through school, library, and business closures, and has led to cancellations and postponements of conventions and events across the nation. KuroNekoCon’s heart goes out to all of our fellow convention organizers, attendees, artists, vendors, fans, and community members that are impacted during this difficult period of uncertainty and concern.
KuroNekoCon cares deeply about the health and safety of those who attend its events. While we do not plan on postponing or cancelling KuroNekoCon at this time, we are actively monitoring all risk factors and will continue to post updates moving forward. Planning for KuroNekoCon will continue as scheduled, and the Board of Directors of the KuroNeko Cultural Association are actively discussing contingency plans in the unfortunate instance that COVID-19 continues to threaten public health into the summer months. We encourage our community to follow prevention recommendations advised by the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization.
Please keep in mind that while we all have varying opinions, as stated in our group rules the Kuronekocon pages are devoted to civil on topic conversations. We strive for Kuronekocon and our pages to be a place to show the support and love our community needs now.
If you are able, consider supporting someone in the community whose livelihood is being impacted. Buy from artists, creators, and vendors online. Check out some of the “online conventions” that are being organized by artists and vendors amidst event cancellations. If you don’t have the funds to support these small businesses in our anime community directly, show your support for them on social media. Share their content, and offer words of encouragement. Show support for the convention organizers who are canceling or postponing their labors of love for the good of the communities’ health.
Our community needs positivity, it needs assurance, and it needs love. Please be kind to one another both on social media and in person, and help us embody the values that the great genre of Shonen taught us.
The Staff of KuroNekoCon