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POLICIES & FORMS.

Below you’ll find a whole bunch of different policies and forms – all of which are important! Please take the time to read our Code of Conduct, and keep in mind we typically update it each year.

Code of Conduct - Updated January 6, 2024

INTRODUCTION

The following general rule supersedes all others listed below and may be invoked at any time:

Any action or behavior that causes significant interference with convention operations, excessive discomfort to other attendees, or adversely affects Anthro New England’s relationship with its guests, its venues or the public is strictly forbidden and may result in permanent suspension or denial of membership.

OPENING STATEMENT

Anthro New England wishes for all our attendees to have fun. To ensure that the greatest number of people achieve this objective we have established certain rules of conduct. By them we seek only to ensure that the behavior of any one small group does not disturb the membership as a whole, nor does it detract from the relaxed and comfortable atmosphere of the convention. Anthro New England welcomes all parties with an interest in anthropomorphic animals; however, the convention’s management reserves the right to deny or revoke the membership of any individual at any time for any reason. Anthro New England, Inc. also reserves the right to amend these rules at any time without prior or posted notice and reserves the sole right of interpretation. In any dispute, the general rule above will apply. If you have any questions, please contact the convention operations staff for assistance.

Any person who accepts a membership badge agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Anthro New England, Inc. from any claim for personal injuries or other damages or equity arising out of any individual’s activities at Anthro New England, even if such injury or damage is caused by negligence by or on the part of Anthro New England, Inc.

As a condition of membership, all Anthro New England attendees are required to abide by these standards of conduct for the entire duration of their stay, even prior to Opening or after Closing.

PUBLIC DECORUM
  • Wear
    • Attire worn in public areas must comply with Massachusetts public indecency laws at all times. Public areas include any areas of the hotel that are accessible to non-Anthro New England attendees, such as lobbies, restaurants, hallways, and concourses, except for any pool areas. Inside convention areas, we ask that a family friendly atmosphere is maintained between the hours of 5 AM and 8 PM with the exception of events marked 18+ with access directly controlled by Anthro New England staff.
      • Attendees must wear appropriate attire in public areas, up to and including opaque tops, pants/shorts or their equivalent, and footwear.
      • Appropriate undergarments must be worn under bodysuits when using public fursuit lounges.
    • Items such as collars, harnesses, and pup hoods, are acceptable and can be worn at all times as long as all other attire conforms to this policy. Please note that leashes are not permitted at any time.
    • All explicit fursuit genitalia must be covered at all times.
    • Nothing may be worn that would impede egress from the venue during an emergency.
  • Convention Rating
    • All convention areas must be kept family friendly between the hours of 5 AM and 8 PM.
    • Pornographic material is banned in all locations with the exception of events or exhibits that are specifically noted to be inappropriate for minors, and access to which is controlled by Anthro New England Safety staff.
  • Intoxication and Substance Use
    • Anthro New England has a zero tolerance policy for underage possession or consumption of alcohol, cannabis, or other age-restricted substances.
      • In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the minimum age for all such substances is 21.
    • The Westin does not allow outside alcoholic beverages on the premises.
    • Attendees must not be visibly intoxicated or under the influence of illegal drugs within convention space.
    • Attendees who are intoxicated to a degree that causes disruption to general Anthro New England staff duties may be subject to immediate revocation of membership privileges.
  • The following are not permitted at Anthro New England:
    • Tactical vests, holsters, and other similar gear
    • Prop weapons that appear in any way realistic
    • Police and military style attire (for example: fatigues and other combat uniforms); whether surplus or active duty.
      • The only exceptions to this policy are:
        • Dress uniforms used for public / formal events may be worn by active duty or veteran military personnel.
        • Police and tactical attire may only be worn by active duty members of the Boston Police Department and Massachusetts State Police who are present in the course of official law enforcement duties.
    • Armbands
    • Symbols perceived as hate symbols
    • Any culturally appropriative attire, art, or props, including but not limited to those that depict racial stereotypes
    • Any attire that features metal spikes or other dangerous protrusions
    • Although we understand that some attendees may be able to utilize kink gear safely, gear that may be a safety hazard is not allowed, as if used improperly, they are still dangerous in the event of an emergency. This includes but is not limited to:
      • Gear that heavily restricts movement such as handcuffs, leg restraints, straightjackets, quadsuits with restrictions on the wearer’s limbs, etc.
      • Respiration hazards such as ball gags, etc.
      • Trip hazards such as leashes, leg chains, etc.

    Final determination in any individual case goes to con staff, not the attendee. If an attendee fails to comply with a request to change their attire, they may have their badge revoked.

  • Props
    • For safety reasons, only handheld glowsticks are permitted in the dances. Glowsticks on strings or on polearms must be cleared with safety staff before being used. The decision of the safety staff on any particular item will be final.
    • No items of any kind, including paper airplanes, may be thrown or dropped from the hotel balconies or patios.
    • No water pistols, silly string, or any thrown or projectile-type toy may be used in any area of the hotel or convention space.
    • At the request of the management, lighter-than-air balloons may not be brought into the convention space or hotel.
    • R/C Aircraft of any type are prohibited.
    • Portable speakers, musical instruments, and other sound generating items may be utilized for approved panels. They are also permitted in The Zoo, designated Jam Zones, and guest rooms, at a reasonable volume. However, they must not cause a disturbance to guests. Use of these items is prohibited in all other convention spaces, hallways, balconies, and all public spaces.
  • Harassment Policy
    • All staff and attendees have a right to an environment free from discrimination and harassing conduct, including physical, verbal, and sexual harassment.
    • Harassment or discrimination on the basis of someone’s race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, sex, arrest or conviction record, marital status, gender, or sexual orientation is expressly prohibited under this policy, and failure to adhere to this policy may result in revocation of Anthro New England membership privileges.
  • Other Decorum Policies
    • No sleeping in the lobby, the hallways, the meeting rooms, common space, or convention space.
    • Anthro New England attendees must abide by instructions given by Anthro New England safety staff. Failure to do so will result in loss of membership privileges. Any disputes or concerns may be addressed onsite at Convention Operations (“Con Ops”) or the Safety Office.
    • Anthro New England functions are open only to members, and all attendees should wear their membership badges at all times. A badge is valid only for the person to whom it was issued; badges may not be shared under any circumstances.
    • Knowingly providing transportation or housing, or otherwise knowingly enabling an individual that is unwelcome at Anthro New England to attend or enter the Convention’s property will result in permanent revocation of Anthro New England membership privileges.
MEDIA RELATIONS
  • Press Entry
    • Any journalists, media photographers, or other members of the press interested in covering our event are requested to please send an inquiry to [email protected]. Upon arrival at the convention, press members will be directed to Con Operations, where they will be provided with an official Anthro New England Press Pass. Members of the press with press passes are permitted to enter areas that would otherwise require a badge. Those who have not been issued a Press Badge may not conduct interviews or take photographs, audio or video footage without an escort.
  • Media Release for Use of Likeness
    • Anthro New England members should be aware that audio and/or video recordings are frequently made in convention areas and that their likenesses may appear in those recordings. Individual members agree to assign without compensation the use of their likeness(es) at Anthro New England for the use of promotional material and media content such as (but not limited to) livestreams, highlight videos, and full main event videos posted after the event has concluded.
  • Brand
    • The name “Anthro New England” and the Anthro New England logo are registered service marks of Anthro New England, Inc., and must not be used in any fashion that disparages or dilutes that mark. Members agree to remove from circulation or publication any image or recording that in the sole opinion of Anthro New England, Inc. misrepresents or defames its service mark.
  • Attendance by Minors
    • Anyone who is under the age of 18 years at any time during the convention must present a signed and notarized parental permission form unless accompanied by a parent or able to produce evidence of legal emancipation. There are no exceptions.
    • Minors are not permitted under any circumstances to enter areas that have been designated for mature audiences.
    • Attempting to subvert area age restrictions, including but not limited to, the use of another attendee’s badge will result in suspension from the convention.
    • Anyone providing false documentation of identity or age will be denied membership and reported to the police.
SECURITY & WELL-BEING
  • Incident Response
    • Coordination will be executed only by non-attending emergency responders
    • In the event of an incident, Anthro New England team members and Westin employees will usher attendees to a safe area. Do not restrict access to any areas and do not issue orders unless you are directly affiliated with either Anthro New England management or the Westin Boston Seaport. Explicit orders and guidance should only come from Westin employees, police officers, fire marshals, and other emergency responders who are not currently attending Anthro New England. If you are found to be in violation of this rule, you may be permanently dismissed from the convention.
    • Once all attendees have been ushered to a safe area, please remain calm and wait patiently for an official statement from either Westin Boston Seaport management, or an Anthro New England director.
  • Weapons
    • No actual weapons or any item that can be easily mistaken for one may be carried either openly or concealed at any time on Westin Boston Seaport or on Convention Center property, regardless of any government permits which you may possess. Personal pocket knives with single-edged blades less than 4 inches long are permitted.
    • Prop weapons as part of a costume only during costume events such as the Masquerade and Fursuit Parade, and must be approved in advance by the convention safety office. They must be cased or otherwise secured when being carried outside of costume.
      • For further information, please see the section “props” under the “Public Decorum” heading above.
  • Smoking
    • Smoking, including the use of electronic cigarettes, is not permitted in any area within the Westin Boston Seaport or the convention center. Smokers are asked to use designated smoking areas, and to comply with any other smoking rules of the facility. Cigarette butts must be disposed of properly and may not be left on the ground.
  • Drugs
    • The sale or other distribution of any illegal or controlled substances is not welcome at Anthro New England. Any individual found to be distributing such substances will be removed and reported directly to the local authorities.
    • Anyone knowingly or unknowingly providing alcohol to anyone under the age of 21 will be turned over to the authorities. It is the sole responsibility of persons serving alcohol in room parties to ensure that every person in attendance is over the age of 21, even if that person is not drinking alcohol. The Massachusetts Liquor Control Board is extremely serious about this law and we ask our members to respect it.
  • Pet Policy
    • Anthro New England does not allow pets. This is for the protection of the pet, the pet owner, and our attendees as a whole. Service animals are permitted in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
  • Parties and Gatherings
    • Gatherings in hotel rooms must not generate any noise that can be heard in neighboring rooms during nighttime hours.
    • Hotel doors must be kept shut during such gatherings and guests are not permitted to congregate in the hotel corridors.
    • Loud parties will be given a single warning to remain quiet. No second warnings will be given before action is taken by the hotel to remove the offending individuals.
    • Hotel guests who host any gathering are responsible for cleaning up afterward. Excessive amounts of unbagged trash must not be left for housekeeping staff to clean. Trash bags are provided by the hotel upon request.
OTHER HOTEL MATTERS
  • Room Share Limit
    • Attendees of Anthro New England who have booked a room at the Main Hotel may not have more than 4 guests (including themselves) sleep in a room, with the exception of suites, rooms that have booked cots, or any other agreed-upon exception deemed acceptable by the Westin Boston Seaport.
  • Damage
    • Any act of vandalism, deliberate or excessive damage to hotel property, or interference with any hotel or Convention Center worker in the performance of his or her duties will result in permanent revocation of Anthro New England membership, criminal prosecution, fines, or any combination thereof.
    • The person in whose name a room is rented is solely responsible for the conduct of all individuals in the room as well as for the condition of the room. Excessive trash, soiling or other damage to hotel property, or any circumstance that may present a hazard to hotel housekeeping staff may result in permanent loss of Anthro New England membership privileges.
    • Do not affix anything to the walls of any hotel or Convention Center, to the elevators, to Anthro New England signage, or to hotel room doors. Any official event, such as a panel, scheduled to occur during the convention may request and provide signage that will be posted in common areas by convention staff.
  • Tidiness
    • Westin Boston Seaport housekeeping staff are required by policy to inspect every room once per day, even if the room is not to be serviced. Housekeepers will not begin their rounds until 10:00 AM. Thereafter they will initially bypass rooms with “do not disturb” signs on the doors, but at the end of their rounds they must return to those rooms and will knock on the door. Attendees must allow housekeeping staff access to the room at that time. That means that even if the “do not disturb” sign is displayed, after 10:00 AM the room must at some point be inspected and serviced (if necessary) by the end of housekeeping rounds.
  • All the Pillows
    • Please contact the Westin Boston Seaport front desk with reasonable requests for extra blankets, pillows, towels, and other hotel room amenities. Requests for room amenities beyond the number that is considered reasonable and customary for a single room will not be honored. Kindly bring such extra items from home if they are expected to be needed.
MONEY MATTERS
  • Nonprofit Type
    • 501(c)7
    • Payments not tax deductible
    • Payments
      • VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Paypal
    • Chargebacks (denying a charge) that are made for the sole purpose of avoiding payment, that are made without sufficient cause, or that are made without first attempting to resolve the dispute with Anthro New England may result in permanent revocation of membership privileges and possible legal action.
    • Checks that are presented against insufficient funds will be charged a fee of $30 per check.
    • Members who have an outstanding balance due to Anthro New England must settle that balance before being permitted to attend the convention.
    • Anthro New England cannot involve itself in financial disputes between individual members, and cannot divulge information about an individual member to any party other than to banking officials or legal authorities.
  • Merchandise
    • The offering for sale of any merchandise at the convention may be undertaken only in appropriate areas in the Convention Center by pre-approved convention dealers only. In all cases the sale will be governed by the rules applicable to those areas. It is illegal to sell any other merchandise or services in any other areas.
    • The use of any form of AI-generated art piece is strictly prohibited from being used within our promotional materials, or sold within our Vendor Hall area.
  • Miscellaneous Notes
    • The standards of conduct for Anthro New England will be strictly enforced by Anthro New England safety volunteers who will be clearly identified as such on site. Please remember that your con badge is the property of Anthro New England, Inc. and must be presented and/or surrendered to any Staff member requesting it. If you have any problem with any action taken by a Staff member you may take the matter up with the Head of Convention Safety or to Anthro New England’s Convention Chair.
    • Please be reminded that these rules involve, of course, “worst-case” scenarios and are put into place to ensure the safety and comfort of our members. They are also not all-inclusive; in all cases, the singular rule that supersedes all others is, “Any action or behavior that causes significant interference with convention operations, excessive discomfort to other attendees, or adversely affects Anthro New England’s relationship with its guests, its venue or the public is strictly forbidden and may result in revocation of membership privileges.” We anticipate no difficulties, as our members as a whole are rational and responsible adults. Anthro New England is prepared to deal with any or all of the above scenarios in as rapid and efficient a manner as possible should they occur. We thank our members for their past cooperation and for their continued assistance in making this a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.

Be Good, and Have Fun!

General Vendor Policy - Updated June 30, 2024

INTRODUCTION.

Thank you for applying to be a Vendor at Anthro New England! For many of our guests, a robust selection of dealers is an important part of what draws them to Anthro New England – and of course, we like to see you make money as well! 

To be as transparent as possible, we want to lay out what Anthro New England’s responsibilities are, and what your responsibilities are as part of our dealer-convention relationship. We will refer to Anthro New England as “ANE” throughout this packet to keep this short.

If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected] and we will do our best to get answers to you.
Happy selling!

TABLES AND RESERVATIONS.
RESERVING A TABLE.

Dealer tables will be selected through a Juried Selection Process.

All tables can be reserved in 30” by 72” (“full table”), 30” by 144” (“2 full tables”), or a 10X10′ (“Booth”) where up to two tables can be provided . Each full table has two chairs. The number of people behind each table must be limited to the number of chairs.

Additional chairs or space around the block cannot be guaranteed.

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY.

Current pricing and availability can be found on our Dealer’s Den page, here.

TABLE ASSIGNMENT.

Anthro New England will assign dealers table space within the available space using the following criteria:

  1. Special Requests: Dealers who submit special requests for specific needs (wall tables for displays, etc.) will be considered for table space based on those needs on a first-come-first-serve basis. If ANE cannot facilitate dealer needs, the dealer will be contacted prior to the convention. Other special requests will be considered as we are able to provide them. No special requests are guaranteed. Special requests can be submitted while requesting a dealer’s table, or by email a [email protected].
  2. No Special Requests: Dealers without specific needs will be assigned to a table space thorough the Dealer’s Den at ANE’s discretion.

* All dealers will have access to electricity.

WITHDRAWING.
  • GREATER THAN 90 DAYS PRIOR TO THE CONVENTION: Should a dealer withdraw within this time frame, they will receive a full refund of their dealer table fees.
  • LESS THAN 90 DAYS PRIOR TO THE CONVENTION: Should a dealer withdraw within this time frame, refunds are at the discretion of ANE.
WAIT LIST.

When a registered dealer withdraws from a table, the first dealer on the waitlist will be contacted and offered the table. If this dealer cannot be contacted, does not reply within 3 calendar days, or refuses the table, the next dealer on the waitlist will be contacted, and so on.

A dealer who cannot be contacted or does not reply within 3 calendar days will be moved to the end of the waitlist, and may still be eligible to purchase a table should enough become available. A dealer who refuses a table will be removed from the waitlist.

CONVENTION REGISTRATION.

One (1) standard registration is included in the price of a full or double dealer’s table. Two (2) standard registrations are included with a booth. All dealers assistants MUST pre-register for the convention.

ACCESS TO THE DEALER’S DEN.

The Dealer’s Den will be open to convention members during Dealer’s Den hours posted in the convention schedule. Sponsoring members will have early access to the Dealer’s Den 30 minutes prior to other members.

Dealers can access the Dealer’s Den the day before the convention; specific times will be available within 30 days of the convention. Dealers also can access the Dealer’s Den 1 hour prior to and 1 hour after the Dealer’s Den hours posted in the convention schedule.

DEALER’S ASSISTANTS.

Each dealer may name a small number of assistants who will have the same access to the Dealer’s Den as dealers. All assistants must be pre-registered for the convention. Dealers will be required to name their assistant in the dealers’ den application.

Dealers and Dealer’s Assistants will have a specially labelled badge and members not bearing one of these badges will not be permitted in the Dealer’s Den outside of regular Dealer’s Den hours.

DEALER DISPLAY CODE OF CONDUCT.

Anthro New England and the Boston Park Plaza will both strictly enforce the following Dealer Display Code of Conduct:

  • Convention Rating: Any and all common areas controlled by Anthro New England and the Boston Park Plaza are to be considered a “PG” rated area unless specifically labelled for mature audiences. The Dealer’s Den is included under this rule.
  • Mature Items Policy: Any dealer displaying or selling goods intended for mature audiences must keep these goods in a clearly labelled portfolio or other suitable storage container that is not openly viewable to the public unless specifically requested by a customer.
  • Mature-Only Inventory: Any dealer displaying or selling goods primarily intended for mature audiences must request special permission from Anthro New England prior to the convention.
  • Customer Age Verification: It is the responsibility of the dealer to verify a customer’s age before releasing a mature item for viewing. Attendees that are under the age of 18 will be issued clearly labelled badges identifying them as a minor. Dealers should check the badges of all customers before releasing a mature item for viewing. Should a dealer be in doubt of a customer’s age, the dealer should ask for additional ID. Any dealer that releases a mature item to a minor without taking reasonable steps to verify that the customer is over the age of 18 will immediately have their ability to sell goods withdrawn. There will be no warnings regarding this policy.
  • Mature Item Bagging: Any goods sold, including but not limited to artwork, that are intended for mature audiences must be delivered to the customer in opaque packaging, such as a black bag or a folder, that obscures the mature item completely.
  • If you are located within the 18+ only zone, or will be vending at the 18+ Night Market, you must only follow the Customer Age Verification and Mature Bagging rules.
  • Intrusive or Dangerous Displays: Displays must not be unreasonably intrusive or offensive to the senses of guests or other dealers. For example:
      • If a dealer is playing a soundtrack for sale, it must be kept at a reasonable volume.
      • Scented items may not be so strong as to bother those not viewing the items directly.
      • Lighted displays should not be distracting or annoying to nearby vendors.
      • Displaying an item with flashing lights could be dangerous to people with photosensitivity, and is prohibited from the entirety of the Vendor Hall.
    • In addition, displays must not be dangerous. For Example:
      • Candles for sale must not be lit.
      • Heavy items that could cause injury must not be placed in a precarious manner.
    • Whether a display is intrusive or dangerous is at the discretion of Anthro New England or the Westin Boston Seaport District. If a representative of Anthro New England or the Westin Boston Seaport District requests you to alter your display, you must comply with that request.
    • Anthro New England and the Westin Boston Seaport District reserve the right to withdraw a dealer’s ability to display or sell goods within convention and hotel property should the Dealer Display Code of Conduct be violated at any point.
INTERNET ACCESS.

Anthro New England will attempt to provide basic internet access via WiFi to the Dealer’s Den. However, this service will be offered purely as a convenience and ANE makes no guarantees about the speed, reliability, security, availability, or usability of this service.

Because this service will have limited, shared bandwidth, we request that dealers refrain from using high-bandwidth applications such as video or audio streaming, in consideration of other dealers who may need to access the internet.

ANTHRO NEW ENGLAND’S RESPONSIBILITIES.

Anthro New England will provide you with space in our Dealer’s Den so you can sell your goods and services to ANE attendees.

At no point can Anthro New England or The Westin Boston Seaport District guarantee the safety, security, or integrity of dealer goods, and they are not responsible for items that are lost or stolen. Anthro New England will take reasonable precautions to secure all dealer goods during sales hours and after the close of the Dealer’s Den, including securing the room after hours using a method approved by the The Westin Boston Seaport District.

DEALER’S RESPONSIBILITIES.

As a dealer, you are responsible for accepting payments from your customers. Where applicable, you are also responsible for collecting sales tax on the goods or services that you sell.

You are also responsible for meeting any other legal requirements which may be necessary to vend at ANE.

These legal requirements may include (where appropriate) but are not limited to: registration with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue; registration with the IRS; and work permits, visas, and other requirements for non-resident dealers. You should thoroughly research the requirements to sell your goods in MA. If you have any questions, you should contact your attorney or accountant to clarify.

Anthro New England is not responsible for determining or completing federal, state, and local responsibilities on behalf of dealers. Dealers agree to hold harmless and indemnify Anthro New England, its team members, and The Westin Boston Seaport District from responsibility due to financial disputes between dealers and their customers, and from investigations into or penalties assessed upon dealers by federal, state, or local authorities.

Please see the Exhibitor Info page for more information.

PROHIBITED ITEMS.

As a dealer, you are not allowed to sell items that are prohibited for sale in Boston, MA. Examples include (but are not limited to):

  • Alcohol
  • Food & Beverages
  • Tobacco
  • Firearms or Ammunition
  • Controlled Substances
  • Video game ROMs, copies, or games otherwise modified from their original, licensed states
  • Any costumes, props, accessories, or items which would conflict with ANE’s Code of Conduct
  • All forms of AI generated artwork

In addition, you are not allowed to sell food or beverages.

ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS.

When you request a dealer’s table, you will be asked if you accept this agreement. Completing the request constitutes agreement to these terms.

ANE reserves the right to change this agreement at any time and without prior notice. ANE and The Westin Boston Seaport District reserve the right to revoke or deny dealer table rights at any time without refund.

In the event of a dispute, the decision of the Dealers Den Head shall be final. 

Medical Policy - Updated July 30, 2024

INTRODUCTION.

These policies and guidelines include measures we are taking to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and other seasonal illnesses during our convention. We have implemented these policies for the protection of other attendees (as well as staff, guests, vendors, and their families & friends). We have a zero tolerance policy towards anyone who violates this policy. 

MASKS REQUIRED.

Masks are medically proven to be effective at limiting the spread of diseases spread via droplet such as the common cold, the flu, and COVID-19. We recognize that other conventions are relaxing their masking requirements, however as Anthro New England is hosted during flu, cold, and COVID seasons we are requiring that our attendees do continue to wear masks.

All individuals must wear an acceptable mask at all times within badged convention space, as well as within the Marina ballroom. When worn, masks must cover the nose and mouth fully.

Examples of acceptable face coverings include:

  • Disposable surgical masks
  • Double walled cloth masks
  • Dust masks
  • N95 masks

This does not include:

  • Balaclavas (unless under a fursuit)
  • Face gaiters
  • Anything with a vent or exhalation valve (ex: painters masks, gas masks, vented N95 masks, etc.)
  • Single walled cloth or mesh facemasks
  • Articles of clothing (ex: scarf, t-shirt, etc.)

Attendees must purchase or acquire their own mask. If an attendee cannot do so for any reason, disposable masks will be available at the convention safety office. 

Final determination of what constitutes an acceptable mask goes to con staff, not the attendee. Repeated violation of, or refusal to comply with this policy will result in a revocation of convention membership and ejection from convention space and may result in a ban from future Anthro New England events.

VACCINATIONS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.

We recognize that access to the COVID-19 vaccination has become more limited since the beginning of the pandemic due to government funded vaccination programs being stopped across the globe. Additionally, certain countries have begun to refuse issuing vaccines to individuals who are not in specific risk groups.

Requiring vaccinations would put increased, unfair financial burden on uninsured attendees and would prevent international people from attending altogether. In order to mitigate the increased medical risk caused by removal of a vaccination mandate, the following measures are being taken:

  • Masks are required in all convention spaces. This policy will be strictly enforced. For further details, please see the expanded mask policy above.
  • Attendees can present proof of COVID-19 and flu vaccination for entry into a sweepstakes with a grand prize including patron level registration for ANE 2026. All entrants must be 18 years or older to apply. Further details and prizes will be announced via our social media platforms.
  • COVID-19 testing kits will be administered for free in the Infirmary, located at the bottom of the escalator on the Grand Ballroom level. Any attendee that tests positive will be eligible for a full refund for the cost of their attendance after the event.

Anthro New England strongly recommends that all attendees get their COVID-19 and flu vaccinations if at all possible.

DO YOUR PART.

Wash your hands, avoid touching your face with unwashed hands, and monitor your health – if you are showing any symptoms of COVID-19 or new onset symptoms of general illness (fever, cough, shortness of breath, gastrointestinal symptoms, etc.) or if you have tested positive and have not isolated for at least 5 days (and/or continue to test positive), we please ask that you do not attend the convention for the safety of yourself and others. Minimizing the onset and spread of any illness during and after the convention is one of our top priorities. 

ANY QUESTIONS?

We’re here to help! If you have any questions regarding the policy – please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected].

We’re doing everything we can to help protect and ensure the health and safety of all Anthro New England attendees – especially those who are immunocompromised. Please help us keep everyone safe while having fun.

Registration Policy - Updated January 5, 2025

LOST BADGE

Upon the attendee reporting the loss of a badge issued by Anthro New England; the first course of action to be taken is inputting the lost badge information into a staff-access spreadsheet to be cross-referenced if the aforementioned badge has been turned into Con Safety. The information should include the following:

  • Badge display name
  • Badge number
  • Registration Tier
  • Additional attachments/ribbons, and other signifying markers, if applicable.
  • Contact Information of the attendee (for the use of contacting them in the event their original badge is found)

Communication will be shared with the Anthro New England Safety Department to determine if the respective badge has been turned into the designated Lost and Found inventory.

If so, the attendee will be required to provide a valid form of acceptable identification that matches the previously approved fields when the original badge issued at Registration. They will then be given direction to the Lost and Found inventory to reclaim their missing badge.

If the badge is determined NOT to be found or in the Lost and Found inventory at the time of reporting and the purchaser requests reprinting of a badge; they are to be issued a maximum of one replacement badge. The respective attendee will be required to make a refundable-deposit of $20 for the issuance of a new badge. This badge is to be marked with an identifier that will indicate that it is a second-issued badge.

In the event the original badge is located and returned to the purchaser after notifying them, the deposit is to be refunded immediately and the second-issued badge is to be terminated and disposed of.
If Anthro New England Department of Safety is to find and determine that both badges are in use at the same time that the second-issued badge has been circulated, corrective action may be taken against any violator for fraudulent behavior and may be subject to being removed and denied access from Anthro New England convention space.

ACCEPTABLE IDENTIFICATION

When picking up your badge from Registration, in order for a prospective attendee to make a valid purchase of a badge at their respective registration tier, they are required to display a form of identification. The document used for identification must meet the following stipulations:

  • Must be a government-issued identification containing:
    • Legal name
    • Date of Birth
    • Photo matching the prospective attendee

Common forms of ID meeting these requirements include but are not limited to Driver’s Licenses, Non-Driver Photo Identification from the state of Residence, Passports, and Common Access Cards (U.S. DoD and Federal Employment Identification).

In the event the prospective attendee lacks an ID with all three of these requirements, Anthro New England will also accept forms of government-issued identification with the legal name and date of birth such as a copy of a birth certificate or social security card, IN ADDITION TO a non-government form of identification with a photo matching the prospective attendee such as a Student ID or Work Badge. We HIGHLY encourage prospective attendees using the alternate forms of identification to use a COPY of their important documents, (i.e birth certificate, social security card, etc).

In the event the prospective attendee is a minor and under the age to require the attendance of a parent/guardian and has NOT been issued a government photo ID; the parent/guardian MUST provide a properly filled out Minor Consent Form AS WELL AS their own approved identification listed above in order to attend Anthro New England. They MUST be in attendance with the minor at all times.

In the event the prospective attendee is a minor and over the age of 16, they MUST provide any of the above mentioned forms of identification AS WELL AS provide a properly completed AND NOTARIZED Minor Consent Form.

REFUNDS

From the date of purchase, up until Sunday, January 12th, 2025, a prospective attendee may request a refund in full in the event they will not be able to attend Anthro New England. Refunds will be returned to the original form of payment, and usually will be available within 5-7 business days of the date of refund.

Anthro New England will NO LONGER OFFER REFUNDS after Sunday, January 12th, 2025. If a prospective attendee does not show up at the convention and reaches out to Anthro New England staff with a reason as to why (funeral, sickness, etc), they will be offered the chance to roll over their purchased attendance at the same tier in which it was purchased for the following year’s convention. Refunds will not be given out automatically to those who did not attend.

In the event a performer or staff member requests a refund post-convention operations, this refund request is to be granted on a case by case basis, per the approval of the required department.

Minor Consent Form

UPDATED ANNUALLY

The Minor Consent form is updated for each year when online pre-registration is opened. Please check back after registration opens to download and fill out the form.