General

To ensure the safety of everyone these rules are to be followed during the event. Please report all accidents, misbehavior, and other problems immediately to the convention staff, Alandica staff, or the committee. All indecent behavior and behavior breaking these rules will be taken seriously, and the convention staff and committee will do whatever is needed to end the behavior.

The instructions by the convention staff, venue staff, and police (etc.) are to be followed in all situations. The staff have the right to remove a person violating these rules, harassing other people, or in other way misbehaving, from the event (according to the Finnish law).

There will be a cloakroom at the event (at the Info Desk in the main hall).

Badges

All members of Archipelacon 2 will receive a badge from registration. Please make sure the badge is visible at all times when you are at the convention site. Anyone not able to show a badge when asked by the convention or Alandica staff will be asked to buy a membership or leave the convention. If your badge breaks during the convention, please take your broken badge to Registration and they can replace it for you for free.

About the Venue

Littering, messing up or breaking the venue is strictly forbidden. Accessing the areas not part of the convention areas or not open for the general public is not allowed. Programme participants, volunteers, and staff have access to areas not available for other members. Touching covered devices or furniture or moving furniture meant as an obstruction is forbidden.

Attaching posters, ads or other papers or items to the walls of the venue is allowed only in the designated areas. There is a wall for posters and a table for flyers. Attaching anything on other walls or surfaces of the convention site is not allowed.

Corridors and staircases

As there are a lot of people at the venue, and people have larger clothing (such as cosplay), access needs, and other reasons why they might need space for movement, obstructing the corridors of the venue is not allowed. Please avoid sitting on the stairs as the convention is on several floors and the stairs are heavily used. There is seating available around the convention site. If you require a seat while queuing, please be in touch with the Info Desk beforehand, or ask a member of the staff (both convention and venue staff can help you).

Lifts

There are two lifts at Alandica for accessing different parts of the convention site. Please allow priority on lifts to those with access needs. There are maps of the venue with lifts marked at the Info Desk, and the lifts have signage about where it will take you. A map of the venue is also available in the programme book.

Alcohol and other intoxicating substances

Carrying and consuming own alcoholic drinks or other intoxicating substances is strictly forbidden at the convention area and its close proximity. If needed, the staff will confiscate the alcohol and other intoxicating substances. The staff have the right to remove a misbehaving person from the event. All controlled substances (such as drugs) will be handed over to the local police. Please notice that according to the Finnish law, a person under 18 is not allowed to carry any alcoholic drinks at all, and for strong spirits the age limit is 20 years.

Smoking

Archipelacon 2 is a non-smoking event. Smoking is not allowed indoors at any time. This includes vaping. Smoking close to the entrances of the venue and close to “No smoking” signs is forbidden. Smoking is allowed only at the designated areas, far enough from the entrances. Please make sure the stubs end up in the ashtrays of the designated smoking areas.

Scented Products, Perfumes, Hair Spray

Archipelacon 2 recommends avoiding the use of perfumes or strongly scented products during the convention. The use of hair spray is not allowed indoors at the convention site, with the exception of the masquerade dressing room marked with the signs allowing the use of hair spray.

Pets

Bringing pets to the venue is not allowed. However, guide dogs are allowed at the venue.

Costumes

Wearing a cosplay or a masquerade costume is allowed, and even encouraged at Archipelacon! However, there are a couple of things to keep in mind while moving around the convention site in a costume to make sure the convention is safe for you and all the other members. Please be careful when walking up and down the stairs in large costumes, and use the lift if needed.

Please also read the “Scented Products, Perfumes, Hair Spray” section of these rules.

Props and Replicas

If you have a big prop or any big items, please be extremely careful when visiting the convention. Please leave all props and items bigger than a lightsaber to the cloakroom.

Bringing any kind of guns or items resembling guns is forbidden. Items like this include for example airsoft guns, other gun replicas, ornamental swords, all types of knives and other items resembling any kind of a weapon. The decision to ban guns and items reminding guns is because of the Finnish Public Order Act section 10 which prohibits guns and items resembling guns at public places.

During the masquerade the contestant can carry and show a larger prop if it is part of the costume. Please remember safety during the show, too. Before the masquerade the prop should be left in the cloakroom.

Health

When attending the convention, there is the possibility of health risks, especially for those who have lower immunity. This is true for all air-borne and surface-borne illnesses. Archipelacon 2 follows the official guidelines and recommendations of the Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare. 

Please make sure you take care of your hygiene: Wash your hands and (if possible) use hand sanitizer several times a day. We recommend wearing a mask, especially when in crowded places, when traveling, and if you suspect you have been in contact with a person with any air-borne or surface-borne illness. If you have any symptoms of a cold or feel ill, please do not attend the convention.

In general, the Covid-19 situation in Åland is good, and there has only been a maximum of one diagnosed case per week since late January. However, it is good to remember the Archipelacon 2 members are from all around the world and will need to travel to Åland, so the number of cases might rise. Covid precaution is also recommended while traveling.

While Åland Islands are considered a tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) risk area in Finland, the risk primarily applies to those spending time in nature or hiking. The convention takes place in the town area of Mariehamn, which means there is no significant risk there. However, if you plan to go on a hike or visit nature while on Åland, it is recommended to wear long-sleeved clothes and check for ticks daily.

Photography

Please do not walk up to people and take close-up photos of them without asking first, and if you do ask, do not interrupt any conversations they might be having. This applies to everyone, including programme participants and Guests of Honour. If you suspect that the person you want to take a picture of gets a lot of people wanting to take their picture, you are probably right, and we therefore ask you not to. Every member and guest should be able to relax and enjoy the convention without being interrupted by people wanting to take their picture all the time. 

If someone disturbs you by taking close-up photos of you without asking, please let the convention staff know!

In Conclusion

The purpose of these rules is not to prevent people from having fun at the convention but ensuring the safety of all the members of the convention. The goal of the rules is not to list everything that is forbidden, the use of common sense is highly recommended.