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Update: the correct dates for the show are April 2-3, not 3-4 as I originally wrote.

MoCCA Festival, New York’s largest indie comics focused event, has announced a new venue for 2016: Metropolitan West, an event space located at West 46th Street between 10th and 11th Avenue. Programming will be held nearby at Ink48, a boutique hotel located at 48th and 10th Avenue. Dates for 2016 are April 2-3, and applications for exhibitors open October 1 and run through December 1, 2015.

The new venue offers two floors and 12,000 sq. ft of space for tables, art exhibits and pop-up cafes, however it will be a bit smaller than past locales, resulting in a slight reduction in the number of tables available. However, in a statement MoCCA expressed their commitment to keeping table prices at the same level as last year’s event.

Society of Illustrators Executive Director Anelle Miller says, “We are so thrilled to find a venue that supports our aesthetic and combines the craft and creations of our independent comics creators with a modern, high-tech, sleek environment. We will continue to build a bigger audience, which we have seen in higher attendance numbers each year we have hosted the Fest, and look forward to working with this new space.”

This will be the fourteenth MoCCA Festival, and the fourth since the event was taken over by the Society of Illustrators. After leaving the large but problematic (and expensive) Lexington Armory, the 2015 show seemed to find an ideal location at Center 548, a beautiful facility located in the heart of the Chelsea gallery district. However that building is being torn down to make room for condos, so organizers had to start yet another venue quest. The new one looks just as comfortable, and we’re assured spectacular rooftop views at Ink48. Given the skill that the SoI crew has shown in setting up events in the past, I’m pretty sure that the new venue will continue the festival’s lively tradition.
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2 COMMENTS

  1. The new space looks nice–it might be smaller but I’m hoping Mocca being on just two floors helps the flow. The one this year felt cramped and separated to me.

  2. I love how the PDF of the floor plan includes examples of the various tables and chairs for planning!

    “Maximum Occupancy 700 Persons”

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