Privacy Policy for Silk Painters International (SPIN)
Silk Painters International ("SPIN," "we," "our," or "us") respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect personal information when you visit silkpainters.org, create or use an account, join or renew membership, register for events, submit forms or artwork, make donations, or otherwise interact with us online.
By using the Site, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.
1. Information We Collect
We may collect the following categories of information:
a. Information you provide directly
This may include:
- name,
- mailing address,
- email address,
- phone number,
- username and password,
- chapter or organization information,
- membership details,
- directory preferences,
- payment-related information,
- donation details,
- festival or event registration information,
- artwork, images, biographies, and other submitted content,
- messages you send through contact forms or other communications.
The public membership join page currently requests contact details, mailing address, phone, email, Facebook email, website, directory privacy preferences, and login credentials. The contact page also requests identifying and contact information in connection with inquiries.
b. Information collected automatically
When you use the Site, we may automatically collect certain technical information, such as:
- IP address,
- browser type,
- device type,
- operating system,
- referring pages,
- pages viewed,
- dates and times of access,
- usage patterns,
- cookies or similar technologies.
c. Information from transactions and participation
If you join SPIN, renew membership, register for a festival or other event, donate, or purchase access to content, we may collect information related to those activities. Public pages currently show memberships, donations, festival information, tutorials, and galleries as core site features.
2. How We Use Information
We may use personal information to:
- provide and maintain the Site,
- create and manage member accounts,
- process memberships, renewals, donations, registrations, and related transactions,
- communicate with you about your account, membership, events, and SPIN activities,
- publish member directory information in accordance with your privacy choices,
- administer galleries, exhibitions, festivals, tutorials, and community programming,
- respond to inquiries and provide support,
- improve the Site and user experience,
- protect the security and integrity of the Site,
- comply with legal obligations,
- enforce our Terms of Use and other policies.
3. Member Directory and Visibility Choices
SPIN's membership join process states that submitted information may become part of the SPIN member-only directory, and it offers privacy choices such as hiding certain information or limiting display to city, state, and country only.
If you are a member, we use your selected privacy settings to determine what information is displayed in member-facing areas. Even so, you should understand that any information you choose to share with other members may be seen, saved, or further shared by those recipients.
4. How We Share Information
We do not sell your personal information.
We may share personal information in the following circumstances:
- with service providers that help us operate the Site or process payments, communications, content delivery, hosting, analytics, event administration, or related services,
- with other members or users where you choose to participate in directories, galleries, exhibitions, chapters, or community features,
- with instructors, organizers, volunteers, or event administrators where needed to run SPIN programs,
- if required by law, court order, or legal process,
- to protect rights, safety, property, or security of SPIN, users, or others,
- in connection with organizational restructuring, merger, or transfer of assets, if ever applicable.
5. Payment Information
If you make a payment, donation, membership purchase, or event registration, payment processing may be handled by a third-party payment processor. SPIN may receive transaction confirmations and related billing details, but we do not intend to store full payment card numbers on our own systems unless explicitly stated and securely managed.
You should review the privacy policies of any payment processor used at checkout.
6. Cookies and Similar Technologies
We may use cookies and similar technologies to:
- keep you signed in,
- remember preferences,
- understand how the Site is used,
- improve security and performance.
You can control cookies through your browser settings, but disabling cookies may affect Site functionality.
7. User Submissions, Artwork, and Public Content
If you submit artwork, biographies, photos, gallery materials, chapter information, festival submissions, or other content, SPIN may display or use that content in connection with its Site, programming, publications, promotions, exhibitions, and nonprofit mission, subject to any applicable submission rules and visibility settings.
Please do not submit sensitive personal information in public or community-facing areas unless you are comfortable sharing it.
8. Data Retention
We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, including:
- maintaining active memberships and accounts,
- preserving organizational and transaction records,
- administering events, directories, and archives,
- complying with legal, tax, accounting, or reporting obligations,
- resolving disputes and enforcing agreements.
We may retain aggregated or de-identified information for longer periods.
9. Data Security
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures to protect personal information. However, no website, database, or transmission over the internet can be guaranteed completely secure.
You are responsible for protecting your password and using caution when sharing information online.
10. Children's Privacy
The Site is not directed to children under 13, and SPIN does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 through the Site without appropriate consent. If you believe a child has provided personal information, contact SPIN so we can review and delete it if appropriate.
11. Your Choices and Rights
Depending on where you live, you may have rights to request access to, correction of, deletion of, or limitation of use of your personal information.
You may also:
- update certain account information through your account, where available,
- contact SPIN to request changes to directory visibility or contact details,
- opt out of certain non-transactional communications using unsubscribe links where available.
SPIN will consider and respond to requests as required by applicable law.
12. Third-Party Links and Embedded Content
The Site may contain links to third-party websites or use third-party tools such as video platforms, social platforms, payment processors, event tools, or other embedded content. Those third parties may collect information under their own privacy policies, and SPIN is not responsible for their practices.
13. International Visitors
SPIN serves an international arts community, and the membership page references domestic and international membership options.
If you access the Site from outside the United States, you understand that your information may be transferred to and processed in the United States or other countries where SPIN or its service providers operate.
14. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will post the revised version on this page and update the "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of the Site after the revised policy is posted means you accept the updated policy.
15. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact SPIN through the Contact page on the Site or by mail at:
Silk Painters International (SPIN)
P.O. Box 291447
Columbia, SC 29229