Why Emerald City Comic Con nixed its Homegrown section for 2023

For years, Seattle's Emerald City Comic Con has featured a space for local creators, artists, vendors and more — the Homegrown section. But for its 2023 event, organizers opted not to include the section, which came as a surprise to vendors who relied on it.

“Even though the section was tucked at the back of the hall with limited signage, the people who came by Homegrown were excited to be there," said Brittany Otto, and artist and vendor at ECCC. "People liked coming to a big convention and still having a chance to check out local artists."

Otto had attended ECCC as a fan for many years before she brought her distinctive, independent art to the event as a vendor, Badger Burrow Studios. Otto is a paper artist who crafts shadow box sculptures.