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How To Apply

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What to Submit

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Who Can Exhibit

✎ How To Apply ✄ What to Submit ✑ Who Can Exhibit

Exhibitor FAQs

  • PIE welcomes creators of all kinds who make narrative, story-driven, and creator-owned work!

    Indie comics, zines, art books, tabletop and RPG games, animation, and everything in between. If you're telling stories in your own way, we'd love to see what you're making!


    Whether you're a solo artist, creative collective, club, small press publisher, or distro, there's room for you.

    We're all about bringing different voices and experiences together. We aim for a good mix of Pittsburgh locals and out-of-town creators, seasoned exhibitors and first-timers, and everyone in between.

    You don't need a long list of shows under your belt to be part of PIE. We're excited to welcome familiar faces and make room for new ones!

  • Anything handmade or originally designed and created by you!

    Handmade examples:

    • Self-printed comics and zines
    • Original artwork
    • Hand-printed shirts, totes, and art prints
    • Stickers and buttons you pressed yourself

    Not handmade but allowed:

    • Commercially printed books or prints of your own original art
    • Merch (for example: totes, shirts, buttons etc) you designed but ordered from a manufacturer

  • Original Work: PIE is all about celebrating indie creativity, so original work should make up most of your table! Fan art and fan merch are totally welcome, but we want your own stories and creations to be the stars of the show.

    Printed Work: We love a good book! Every table should have some form of printed storytelling, whether that's comics, zines, art books, or other publications.

    If your work is primarily webcomics, animation, games, or other digital storytelling, that's great too! Just make sure you bring something printed that shares your stories, not only prints or merch. We want to give folks something they can pick up, flip through, and get lost in!

    AI-Generated Content: We're here to celebrate human creativity! We're open to thoughtful, transparent uses of generative tools, but not when they replace the work of human creators or rely on others' work without permission. AI-generated content may be declined.

  • Absolutely! Just make sure any 18+ work is clearly labeled so folks know what to expect. If most of your table features adult-only content, we’ll seat you in a designated 18+ area alongside other creators with similar work. This helps attendees know what to expect while keeping PIE welcoming and comfortable for everyone!

  • Table options are $50 half (4ft table + 1 chair) or $100 full (8ft table + 2 chairs.) Pittsburgh/Pennsylvania residents and first-time or new exhibitors may be offered a discounted table.

    The application will ask for:

    • Your preferred name

    • Your creator/display name

    • A photo, image, or logo

    • A bio or description

    • Website and/or social media presence

    • Examples of what you do/make

    • Option to propose a workshop, panel or other programming

Participation Policies

Safe Space & Conduct Policy

At PIE, we want everyone to feel welcome, respected, and safe. We celebrate people of all identities and experiences, and we do not tolerate discrimination or harassment in any form. This includes behavior as well as any merch or imagery displayed.

Our Shared Responsibility

By taking part in PIE, you agree to uphold these values. We rely on everyone to help cultivate a community built on mutual respect and care.

If something happens that doesn’t align with these values, please reach out to an organizer. Your concerns will be taken seriously. Anyone who chooses not to follow our community expectations may be asked to leave.

Consider These Guidelines:

  • Ask for clear consent before touching someone or entering their personal space.

  • Ask before taking photos or recording anyone.

  • Respect the opinions, beliefs, identities, and lived experiences of others.

  • Remember that your actions can affect others even if you didn’t intend harm.

  • Be aware of unintentionally creating an environment that is intimidating, undesirably sexual, disruptive, hostile, or ableist.