Art Zone
Step into the creative side of AVCon. The Art Zone is a drop-in creative space for artists, fans, builders, writers, and anyone who wants to try something hands-on.
You do not need to be an artist to enjoy it. You can sketch for fun, colour something in, add to the doodle wall, check out fan art, read fan fiction entries, vote in competitions, look at Gundam builds, or chat with creative guests and groups!
It is open across the weekend, including during AVCon After Dark, with activities available throughout the day and selected 18+ competition displays available during After Dark only.
What You Can Do In The Art Zone
Enter the Quick Draw Competition
Think fast. Draw faster! The Quick Draw Competition is AVCon’s on-the-day art challenge where entrants have 20 minutes to create an artwork and compete for a daily cash prize.
To enter, visit the registration desk in the Art Zone and ask to join the Quick Draw Competition. You will be given an entry sheet marked with your start time and finish time. You then have 20 minutes to create your piece and return it before your time is up!
- There is a $100 prize available each day.
- All entries for the standard Quick Draw Art Competition must be at most PG-13 rated. This means no major depictions of violence, sexual situations, or other adult themes. Mature themes and content are permitted in the 18+ Quick Draw Competition at After Dark.
- Entries are limited to one entry per person, per day of AVCon 2026. Attendees attending After Dark will also be able to submit one entry regardless if they entered the Saturday Quick Draw Comp!
During AVCon After Dark, the 18+ Quick Draw Competition will run again entries will also be on display with voting available during the After Dark session with a prize up for grabs!
View and Vote in the Fan Art Competition
See the creativity of the AVCon community on display with entries from the Fan Art Competition. Attendees can browse the entries and vote for their favourites across the weekend.
During AVCon After Dark, the 18+ Fan Art Competition entries will also be on display with voting available during the After Dark session.
Want your work on display? Entries for the Fan Art Competition and 18+ Fan Art Competition are open until Wednesday 1 July 2026 at 11:59 pm Adelaide time. These competitions are pre-event entry only. You cannot enter on the day, so get your entry in before the deadline!
View the Manga Competition Entries
Read the short manga stories submitted by AVCon’s aspiring manga creators. The Art Zone will include entries from the AVCon Manga Competition for attendees to browse and enjoy across the weekend.
These entries show more than artwork alone, with each story using panels, pacing, dialogue, flow, and storytelling to bring an original idea to life.
Want your manga on display? Entries for the AVCon Manga Competition are open until Wednesday 1 July 2026 at 11:59 pm Adelaide time. These competitions are pre-event entry only. You cannot enter on the day, so get your entry in before the deadline!
Read the Fan Fiction Competition Entries
Settle in and read the stories submitted by AVCon’s top writers, you guys! The Art Zone will include entries from the Fan Fiction Competition for attendees to read and enjoy.
During AVCon After Dark, the 18+ Fan Fiction Competition entries will also be available to read!
Want your story included? Entries for the Fan Fiction Competition and 18+ Fan Fiction Competition are open until Wednesday 1 July 2026 at 11:59 pm Adelaide time. These competitions are pre-event entry only. You cannot enter on the day, so get your entry in before the deadline!
See the Gundam Build Competition Display
Check out the entries in the Gundam Build Competition and see the detail, creativity, and craftsmanship from local builders. You can browse the builds on display throughout the weekend and see how each entrant has approached their model, design, pose, finish, and presentation.
Want to enter a build? Entries for the Gundam Build Competition are open until Friday 26 June 2026 at 11:59 pm Adelaide time. This competition is pre-event entry only. You cannot enter on the day, so get your entry in before the deadline!
Free Draw, Colouring and Paper Crafts
Need a creative break? Pull up a seat and draw, colour, sketch, fold, cut, or create at your own pace.
Free draw, colouring, origami, and paper craft activities are available throughout the weekend for attendees who want a calmer creative activity between panels, shopping, gaming, and stage events.
Colouring activities will also be available in Sprite’s Kids Zone, which is a great option for families with younger attendees who want a more kid-focused creative space.
Scribble and Doodle Wall
Leave your mark on AVCon’s scribble and doodle wall!
Add a sketch, doodle, message, tiny character, pattern, or silly idea and help build a growing wall of attendee creativity. The wall will change each day, so there will be a fresh space for new drawings across the weekend.
During AVCon After Dark, we will also have a special 18+ doodle wall for everyone’s in(mature) drawings.
Please keep all daytime contributions event-appropriate and follow any signage or staff directions in the area.
Meet Creative Guests and Groups
The Art Zone is also a place to meet and chat with creative guests, local groups, and people working in art, illustration, animation, manga, education, and model building!
- Jin Chan Yum Wai – Meet special manga guest Jin Chan Yum Wai in the Art Zone. Stop by, say hello, and learn more about manga, storytelling, art, and creative practice.
- Squish Squash – Chat with the talented local animators and illustrators from Squish Squash. Learn more about their creative work, animation, illustration, and the local creative scene.
- Colour and Shape – Discover creative learning opportunities with art school Colour and Shape. This is a great stop for attendees interested in developing their skills, exploring art pathways, or finding out what creative study can look like.
- Gundam Club Australia – Meet Gundam Club Australia, see standout builds, learn more about Gunpla, and find out what makes model building such a detailed and rewarding hobby.