| AVCon (Adelaide's Anime and Video Games Festival) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | |
| Location(s) | Adelaide, South Australia, Australia |
| Country | Australia |
| Years active | 2002-2019, 2023-present |
| Inaugurated | July 20, 2002 |
| Most recent | July 21, 2023 |
| Next event | June 28, 2024 |
| Attendance | 13,000 (2023 first event post covid) |
| Organised by | Team AVCon Incorporated |
| Filing status | Charity |
| Website | www |
AVCon is an Australian anime and video games festival held in Adelaide, South Australia and organised by the registered not for profit charity Team AVCon Inc.[1] The festival is traditionally held annually in June or July, spanning two full days. AVCon was first held at the University of Adelaide in 2002, followed by the Adelaide Convention Centre between 2009 and 2023. In 2024 the festival will be held at the Adelaide Showground. AVCon was not held between 2020 and 2022 because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, but returned in 2023.[2][3]
Events and Programming
AVCon features many events and activities during the festival for attendees to take part in, such as anime screenings, community and industry-led panels and workshops, artist alley, tabletop gaming, art and writing competitions, video game and tabletop tournaments, and free play gaming.
AVCon has held a large variety of focus panels, workshops, and events run by the community and industry. Top attractions include the AVCon cosplay competition, quiz night, auction, After Dark party and artist alley. AVCon has hosted many industry guests, including notable voice actors who often hold panels. Numerous film and video rooms showed anime screenings that run all day and into the evening.
Much like other festivals, AVCon also features a large scale exhibit hall where attendees can purchase various products from a wide range of exhibitors. The exhibitor hall also features an artist alley where attendees can purchase fan-created artwork and merchandise.
Festival History
History
AVCon began in 2002 as a small joint convention supported by volunteers from the University of South Australia's Adelaide Japanese Animation Society (AJAS) and the Adelaide University Video Gamers Association (AUVGA, now known as EVAC). Originally known as the AVConnection, the event was held annually at the University of Adelaide in the Union building. In 2008, the event outgrew its convention status and became a festival due to continued attendance growth. During this growth, the registered not-for-profit charity Team AVCon was founded. This was to continue running the AVCon Festival each year, but their mission has increased to further culture with both the Festival weekend and mini events.
In 2009, AVCon moved to a larger venue at the Adelaide Convention Centre. This venue change resulted in double the previous year's ticket sales, with an attendance of just over 4,000 people. In 2010, the festival was again held at the Adelaide Convention Centre with 6,000 attendees, and the numbers increased once more the next year to over 8,000 in 2011.[4][5]
Impact from COVID-19 Pandemic
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, the 2020 AVCon festival was cancelled.[6] The 2021 AVCon festival was scheduled to be held at the Morphettville Racecourse from 9–11 July. An official statement was released on the 30th of June 2021 stating the festival would be postponed due to lockdown in South Australia. On the 24th of July, Team AVCon announced that the 2021 festival had been cancelled. The cancellation was due to restrictions on gatherings likely persisting even after lockdown ends and the venue already being booked through the remainder of the year for other events. Team AVCon stated that "the possibility that we can run a large-scale event for thousands of people at any time in the near future has all but disappeared. Even when things are under control, it is likely tough restrictions will remain that will make large-scale gatherings for months to come next to impossible."[7]
On the 16th of March 2022, an official statement was released on Team AVCon's social media and website announcing that AVCon: Adelaide's Anime and Video Games Festival would not be held in 2022 as a large event. This decision was due to the risk of cancellation due to fluctuating COVID restrictions leading to a negative financial impact on Team AVCon's future and the safety of staff, attendees, volunteers and guests.[8]
After a three-year hiatus, AVCon was held again as a large event at the Convention Centre on 21-23 July 2023. In 2024, the event was relocated to the Adelaide Showground and will be held on June 28-30.
Festival Locations
| Dates | Location | Theme | Guests | Convenor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 20–21, 2002 | University of Adelaide | None | Neil Phillips | |
| July 19–20, 2003 | University of Adelaide | None | Neil Phillips | |
| July 17–18, 2004 | University of Adelaide | None | Connell Wood | |
| July 16–17, 2005 | University of Adelaide | RPG | None | Connell Wood |
| July 14–16, 2006 | University of Adelaide | Pirates vs Ninjas | None | Mitchell Chapman |
| July 20–22, 2007 | University of Adelaide | Rock Show | None | Mitchell Chapman |
| July 26–27, 2008 | University of Adelaide | Space Opera | None | Mark Stoffels |
| July 24–26, 2009 | Adelaide Convention Centre | Heroes and Villains | None | Mel Dyer |
| July 23–25, 2010 | Adelaide Convention Centre | Into the Woods | None | Thomas Baker |
| July 22–24, 2011 | Adelaide Convention Centre | Retro | Little Kuriboh, Ryan Lappin and Jade Gatt | Thomas Baker |
| July 27–29, 2012 | Adelaide Convention Centre | Neon Future | Cassandra Lee Morris, and Crispin Freeman | Tom Birdseye |
| July 12–14, 2013 | Adelaide Convention Centre | School Days | Jessica Nigri, Chris Cason and Spike Spencer | Tom Birdseye |
| July 18–20, 2014 | Adelaide Convention Centre | Fantasy RPG | Jon St. John, Cherami Leigh and Chris Avellone | William Brennan |
| July 17–19, 2015 | Adelaide Convention Centre | Detective Agency | Jennifer Hale, Yaya Han and Eve Beauregard | William Brennan |
| July 15–17, 2016 | Adelaide Convention Centre | Magica vs Mecha | Caitlin Glass, Good Game cast Steven "Bajo" O'Donnell, Stephanie "Hex" Bendixsen, Gus "Goose" Ronald, Nich "NichBoy" Richardson and Michael "Hingers" Hing | Kira Austin |
| July 21–23, 2017 | Adelaide Convention Centre | Winter Festival | Quinton Flynn, Jen Taylor, Chris Pope, and Steve Downes | Kira Austin[9] |
| July 20–22, 2018 | Adelaide Convention Centre | Evolution | Spike Spencer, Neil Kaplan, Major Sam Cosplay, Beke Cosplay, Vera Chimera, and Knitemaya | Anthony Kearney[10] |
| July 5–7, 2019 | Adelaide Convention Centre | Join the Party | Paul St. Peter, and D.C. Douglas | Ethan Levy[11] |
| Cancelled | N/A | N/A | Emily Franzon | |
| Cancelled | Ultimate Fighter | JoshDub, Mully, SmashingVR, Michael Cusack, Henchwench and Scrap Shop Props | Emily Franzon | |
| Cancelled | N/A | N/A | Thao Vuong | |
| July 21–23, 2023 | Adelaide Convention Centre | 21st Birthday | Lisle Wilkerson, Hiroshi Nagahama | Thao Vuong |
| June 28-30, 2024 | Adelaide Showground | TBA | TBA | Matthew "Mowen" Owen |
Organisational Structure
Team AVCon Incorporated, the parent organisation which produce AVCon, is a registered charity[12] which follows an Incorporated Association structure under the Associations Incorporation Act 1985. Each year, a new Elect is voted in by the membership and the Committee are appointed by the Elect from previous Elect, Committee, new and existing members.
The purposes for which the incorporated Association is established for are:
(i) to organise and run:
- anime and video game-related festivals,
- anime and video game-related events, and
- other events and/or festivals.
(ii) to promote community interest in Japanese culture and society,
(iii) to encourage the appreciation of anime and other related art forms, which include (but are not limited to) manga, video games and amateur works of written or artistic pursuit.
References
- ↑ "About – AVCon: Adelaide's Anime & Video Games Festival". Retrieved 15 April 2021.
- ↑ Team AVCon (14 November 2022). "AVCon 2023 Festival Announcement". Facebook.
- ↑ Team AVCon (12 December 2023). "AVCon 2024 Festival Announcement". Facebook.
- ↑ Harris, Leigh (21 July 2011). "AVCon to have record year this weekend". MCV. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
- ↑ Kelton, Sam (25 July 2011). "Chewie on footpath a comic moment". The Advertiser. Adelaide, South Australia. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
- ↑ "Coronavirus – what services and events are affected in SA?". NewsComAu. 16 March 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
- ↑ "AVCon 2021 Cancellation". Facebook. 23 July 2021.
- ↑ "AVCon 2022 Announcement". Team AVCon Facebook. 16 March 2022.
- ↑ "AVCon financial Reporting 2016" (PDF). Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). 10 March 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Birdseye, Tom (27 June 2018). "AVCon financial reporting 2017" (PDF). Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). Retrieved 12 January 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "AVCon Financial Reporting 2018" (PDF). Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). 25 June 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "TEAM AVCON INCORPORATED". Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission. 15 April 2021. Archived from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2021.