Terms & Conditions - projectanonymousartist.com

These Terms and Conditions govern your use of Project Anonymous Artist (“the Platform”, “we”, “us”) and all services offered through projectanonymousartist.com. By using the Platform — whether as an artist, buyer, or visitor — you agree to these Terms in full. Please read them carefully.

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. We strongly recommend you have them reviewed by a solicitor before relying on them for commercial purposes.

For Artists —
Submissions

Project Anonymous Artist is an open platform. We believe in the full breadth of human creative expression — including work that is dark, challenging, uncomfortable, erotic, political, spiritual, abstract, or confrontational. Anonymity exists precisely to give artists the freedom to make work they might not make under their own name. We do not censor on the basis of style, genre, subject matter, medium, or artistic intent.

However, freedom of expression is not without limits. Section 1.4 of these Terms sets out a small number of categories of content that will never be accepted on the Platform. These limits exist not to restrict artistic voice, but to protect people, animals, and the integrity of the community we are building.

1.1 Eligibility

Artists must be aged 18 or over to submit work to the Platform.
Submissions are open globally. There is no restriction on nationality, career stage, level of experience, or gallery representation.
Artists with existing representation may submit. The Platform operates on a non-exclusive basis.
Each artist may submit multiple artworks. Each submission is reviewed independently and anonymously.

1.2 Submission Rules

All submissions must be original works created solely by the submitting artist. Collaborative works are not accepted at this time.
The artist confirms that the submitted work does not infringe any third-party intellectual property rights, including copyright, trademark, or moral rights.
Submissions must be photographs or digital images of physical artwork. Digital-only works are not accepted.
Up to 10 images may be submitted per artwork, including full views, detail shots, and scale references.
Images must not contain the artist's name, signature, watermark, social media handle, or any other identifying information. Submissions that include identifying information will be disqualified without review.
Submission does not guarantee selection. Curatorial decisions are final and no feedback will be provided on unselected works.

1.3 Submission is Free

Submitting work to Project Anonymous Artist costs nothing. There is no submission fee at any stage of the process. An entry fee of £10 per artwork applies only if a work is selected for an exhibition. This fee is not charged at submission and is never charged for works that are not selected. See Section 2 for full details.

Content &
Acceptable Use

1.4 What We Welcome

Project Anonymous Artist welcomes original artwork across all mediums, styles, traditions, and subject matter. The Platform is deliberately and proudly open to work that is difficult, provocative, sexual, political, spiritual, abstract, figurative, violent in a literary or artistic sense, or otherwise challenging. Anonymity exists so that artists can make work without fear of social or professional consequence. We will not remove or reject work solely because it is uncomfortable to look at or challenges prevailing taste.

We accept all mediums: painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpture, ceramics, collage, mixed media, textile, performance documentation, video stills, digital art, and any other form of original physical or screen-based artistic practice.

If your work is difficult, dark, erotic, or politically charged — and it is genuinely art — this platform is for you. The following section describes a narrow set of absolute limits that exist to protect real people and animals, not to police artistic content.

1.5 Content That Will Never Be Accepted

The following categories of content will be rejected immediately, permanently removed from the Platform, and where legally required, reported to the appropriate authorities. Submitting content in these categories may result in permanent suspension from the Platform and, where applicable, referral to law enforcement. These limits are absolute — they cannot be justified by artistic intent, cultural context, or any other framing:

Sexual content involving minors — Any artwork that depicts, simulates, suggests, or could be construed as sexualising a person under the age of 18. This includes drawn, painted, photographed, or digitally created imagery. There are no exceptions. This content is illegal in the UK and most jurisdictions worldwide and will be reported to the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Internet Watch Foundation (IWF).
Real violence against real, identifiable people — Photographs, video stills, or documentary images depicting actual violence, torture, or serious physical harm inflicted on a real, identifiable person, where the purpose is to degrade or harm rather than document or bear witness. Artistic or journalistic depictions of violence that serve a clear documentary, political, or historical purpose are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Animal cruelty and abuse — Any artwork that depicts, documents, or glorifies the abuse, torture, or killing of animals for entertainment or gratification. Artistic works exploring the relationship between humans and animals — including hunting, slaughter, or ecological destruction — are reviewed on their artistic merit and intent.
Direct incitement to violence — Artwork whose primary purpose is to incite, encourage, or instruct real-world violence against a specific person, group, community, religion, ethnicity, gender, or sexuality. This is distinct from political art, satire, protest art, or work that depicts violence as subject matter — incitement means the work functions as a call to action for harm.
Targeted harassment and threats — Work that names, identifies, or depicts a real, living person with the explicit intent of threatening, humiliating, or facilitating harassment of that individual. Anonymous criticism, satire of public figures, and political commentary do not fall under this category.
Hate content designed to dehumanise — Artwork whose primary function is to portray a group of people — defined by race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexuality, disability, or nationality — as subhuman, worthy of elimination, or inherently inferior. This is distinct from work that critically examines racism, discrimination, or prejudice — the distinction is between exploring hatred as subject matter and producing content that functions as hatred itself.
Content that violates non-consensual privacy — Photographs, video stills, or artwork that includes intimate images of a real person taken or shared without their consent. Artistic nude work, erotic work, and life drawing are fully accepted — this clause applies specifically to non-consensual privacy violation.

1.6 How Content Decisions Are Made

The Platform reviews all submissions. Where content is borderline or requires contextual interpretation, the review panel will consider the following: the artistic intent as expressed in the submission statement, the medium and craft of the work, the broader body of work context where available, and established precedent in institutional art contexts (museums, galleries, published critical literature).

We will always err on the side of artistic freedom. We will contact the artist before removing a work where it is reasonable to do so — except in cases falling under Section 1.5 above, where immediate removal is required.

1.7 Reporting Content

If you encounter content on the Platform that you believe falls within the prohibited categories above, please email hello@projectanonymousartist.com with the subject line “Content Report”. All reports are reviewed within 24 hours. We take content safety seriously without using it as a pretext to suppress legitimate artistic expression.

The spirit of this Platform is openness. The limits above are narrow, specific, and rooted in legal obligations and the protection of real people and animals — not in taste, comfort, or convention. If your work challenges, provokes, or disturbs in the service of genuine artistic expression, it belongs here.

Exhibition
Entry Fee

Project Anonymous Artist operates four online exhibitions per year. Each exhibition features exactly 20 curated works. A small entry fee applies only to works that are selected for exhibition.

Detail	Policy
Fee amount	£10 per artwork
When charged	Only upon selection — never at submission
What it covers	Exhibition hosting, curation administration, platform costs, and promotion of the work
Payment timing	Invoiced by email within 5 business days of selection notification
Payment methods	Bank transfer, Stripe, or PayPal
Non-payment	If the entry fee is not paid within 14 days of invoice, the selection may be offered to the next-ranked work
Refund policy	The £10 entry fee is non-refundable once an exhibition has opened

The entry fee is not a submission fee. You are never charged to try. You are only charged if your work is selected — and only £10, which covers the cost of promoting your work to our audience.

Intellectual
Property

3.1 Artist Retains All Rights

The artist retains full copyright and ownership of all submitted artwork at all times. The Platform claims no ownership of any artwork, at any point, under any circumstances.

3.2 Licence Granted to the Platform

By submitting artwork, the artist grants Project Anonymous Artist a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to:

Display and reproduce the artwork on the Platform website, social media channels, email newsletters, and press materials.
Use the artwork in promotional materials including but not limited to Instagram posts, Substack newsletters, press releases, and printed exhibition materials.
Share the artwork with potential buyers and collectors in the course of operating the Platform.

This licence is granted for as long as the artwork remains listed on the Platform. Upon removal of the artwork (by the artist or the Platform), the licence terminates — except for archival materials already published prior to removal.

3.3 What We Will Never Do

Sell, license, or sub-license reproductions, prints, or derivative works of the artwork without the artist's explicit written consent.
Use the artwork in commercial advertising for third-party products or services without consent.
Alter or distort the artwork in any way that would damage the artist's reputation or moral rights.

3.4 Removal of Artwork

Upon written request from the artist, the Platform will remove artwork and associated images from all public-facing platforms within 30 days. Where artwork is subject to an active sale or exhibition, removal may be delayed until those processes are concluded.

Anonymity
& Data

4.1 How We Protect Your Identity

Anonymity is the structural foundation of this Platform. The following measures are in place at all times:

Artist identity information (name, email address, country) is stored in an encrypted system, completely separate from the artwork record. These two datasets are never linked internally except through a verified reveal request from the artist.
No curator, team member, or third party has access to artist identity data in the ordinary course of their work.
Curators review all submissions without access to any identifying information at any stage of the selection process.
Artwork is published, described, and attributed solely as "Anonymous Artist."
In the event of a data breach, affected artists will be notified within 72 hours in accordance with applicable data protection law.
Artist identity data is retained only for as long as the artwork remains in the collection, or until the artist requests deletion.

4.2 Data We Collect

We collect only the minimum personal data required to operate the Platform:

4.3 Your Rights

Under UK GDPR and, where applicable, EU GDPR, you have the right to access, correct, or delete your personal data at any time. You may also withdraw consent for data processing. To exercise any of these rights, email hello@projectanonymousartist.com.

4.4 Data Retention

If a submission is not selected: all personal data is deleted within 30 days of notification
If a submission is selected: personal data is retained for as long as the artwork remains in the collection, or until deletion is requested.
Following a verified reveal: the artist's name and biography (as provided by the artist) become associated with the artwork record permanently, unless the artist requests otherwise.

The Reveal
Process

5.1 Identity Preferences

Artists select one of three identity preferences at submission. This preference may be changed at any time by emailing the Platform:

Remain anonymous permanently — Identity will never be shared by the Platform under any circumstances.
Reveal after 6 months — The Platform will introduce the artist to its community via social media and email newsletter, six months after submission. The artist will be contacted first to provide a biography and statement for the reveal.
Reveal on artist's request — No reveal will occur unless the artist emails the Platform directly. There is no deadline or time limit.

5.2 Changing Your Preference

Identity preferences may be updated at any time by written request to hello@projectanonymousartist.com.
Changes take effect within 5 business days of written confirmation from the Platform.
A reveal preference can be changed or reversed at any time before the reveal has been published.
Once a reveal has been published publicly (on social media or via email newsletter), it cannot be undone. The Platform will not delete previously published reveal content upon the artist's request.

5.3 What Happens at Reveal

The artist's name and a short biography (provided by the artist) are added to the artwork record on the Platform.
The Platform publishes an introduction post across Instagram and the email newsletter, authored in collaboration with the artist.
Collectors who purchased the revealed work are notified privately before any public announcement.
The Certificate of Authenticity for any sold work is updated with the artist's name and, where provided, a personal note from the artist to the collector.

For Buyers —
Purchases

6.1 How to Purchase

All artworks are purchased through an enquiry process. Clicking “Purchase” on any work submits an enquiry form to the Platform. This does not constitute a legally binding purchase until a payment link has been issued and payment has been confirmed.

6.2 The Purchase Process

The buyer submits an enquiry via the Platform.
The Platform confirms availability and issues a secure payment link within 48 hours.
Payment is made via Stripe or bank transfer. Payment is held until the buyer confirms receipt of the artwork.
The artist is notified (anonymously, without the buyer's personal details) and packages and ships the artwork within 5 business days of payment confirmation.
The buyer confirms receipt. Payment is released to the artist within 14 business days of confirmed delivery.

6.3 Buyer Identity

Buyer contact and delivery details are shared with the artist only to the extent necessary for shipping the artwork. The buyer’s name, email address, and delivery address are never published or shared beyond this purpose.

6.4 Artist Identity at Point of Sale

If an artwork is listed by an artist who has not yet revealed their identity, the artist’s name is not disclosed to the buyer at the point of sale. The buyer purchases the work as an “Anonymous Artist” piece. Identity may be shared later only following a confirmed reveal by the artist.

Sales &
Commission

Party	Share of Sale Price
Artist	85% of the final sale price
Platform	15% commission retained by the Platform
Shipping costs	Paid separately by the buyer at checkout
Payment processing fees	Absorbed by the Platform (not deducted from artist share)

The artist sets their own minimum price for each work. The Platform may suggest pricing guidance but cannot compel a price.
The 15% / 85% commission split is confirmed to artists in advance and applies to all sales made through the Platform.
Payment to the artist is made within 14 business days of confirmed delivery to the buyer.
In the event of a buyer return within the 14-day return window, any payment already released to the artist may be held or requested back pending resolution.

Artists selling through the Platform may be required to register as self-employed and declare income to HMRC (or equivalent authority in their country). The Platform provides no tax advice. Artists are responsible for their own tax obligations.

Shipping
& Delivery

All artwork is packaged and shipped by the artist directly to the buyer. The Platform facilitates the sale and provides shipping guidance but does not handle physical artworks at any stage.

8.1 Artist Responsibilities

The artist must package the artwork safely and professionally, using appropriate archival and protective materials to prevent damage in transit.
The artist must ship the artwork within 5 business days of receiving a confirmed order and shipping instructions from the Platform.
The artist must provide the Platform with a tracking number within 24 hours of dispatch.
The return address on all shipments must be either the artist's own address or a neutral address agreed with the Platform — never a personal address that would identify the artist to the buyer.
Every shipment must include the Certificate of Authenticity provided by the Platform.

8.2 Estimated Delivery Times

Region	Estimated Delivery
United Kingdom	5–7 working days from dispatch
European Union	7–14 working days from dispatch
United States & Canada	10–21 working days from dispatch
Rest of World	14–28 working days from dispatch

These are estimates only. The Platform cannot guarantee delivery times and is not responsible for delays caused by customs, postal services, or circumstances beyond the artist’s control.

8.3 Shipping Costs

Shipping costs are the responsibility of the buyer and are calculated at checkout based on the artwork’s size, weight, and the buyer’s delivery country. Shipping costs are non-refundable unless the artwork arrives damaged or is materially different from its description.

8.4 Customs and Import Duties

International buyers are responsible for any customs duties, import taxes, or VAT levied by their country’s authorities. The Platform cannot predict or advise on these charges. Buyers should check their local requirements before purchasing.

Returns
& Refunds

Buyers have a 14-day return window from the date of confirmed delivery.
To initiate a return, the buyer must email hello@projectanonymousartist.com within 14 days of delivery, stating the reason for the return.
Artwork must be returned in its original condition, using appropriate packaging. Return shipping costs are the buyer's responsibility unless the artwork arrived damaged or was materially different from its description.
Upon receipt and inspection of the returned artwork by the artist, a full refund of the purchase price (excluding original shipping costs) will be issued within 14 business days.
Artworks that have been damaged by the buyer, altered, or returned without original packaging may not qualify for a full refund.
The £10 exhibition entry fee paid by the artist is non-refundable in the event of a buyer return.

9.1 Damaged Artwork on Arrival

If an artwork arrives visibly damaged, the buyer must photograph the damage immediately and email hello@projectanonymousartist.com within 48 hours of delivery. The Platform will assess the claim and, where damage occurred in transit, will coordinate a full refund including original and return shipping costs.

Insurance —
Important Notice

Important: The Platform does not provide insurance of any kind for artwork at any stage — during shipping, storage, exhibition, or after sale. This is the artist’s responsibility.

10.1 Artist Insurance Responsibilities

Artists are solely responsible for arranging appropriate insurance cover for their artwork from the point of creation through to delivery and confirmation of receipt by the buyer.
Artists should arrange shipping insurance for each sale at their own cost. Some courier services offer insurance as an add-on; artists may also arrange standalone fine art transit cover.
The Platform strongly recommends that artists hold public liability insurance and consider fine art insurance for any works stored, exhibited, or sold through commercial channels.
In the event of loss or damage during shipping, the Platform will assist in facilitating communication between artist and buyer, but accepts no financial liability for the loss.

10.2 Buyer Insurance

Buyers are encouraged to arrange appropriate home contents or fine art insurance for purchased artworks once they are in the buyer’s possession. The Platform accepts no responsibility for artwork after confirmed delivery to the buyer.

10.3 Recommended Providers

For UK-based artists, specialist fine art transit and studio insurance is available from providers such as Hiscox, Chubb, and Artrepreneur. International artists should seek equivalent providers in their jurisdiction. This is not an endorsement — artists should conduct their own due diligence.

Residencies

Residency applications are reviewed anonymously. The selection panel has no access to applicant names or biographical information.
Residency placements are confirmed by written agreement between the Platform and the selected artist.
Artists are responsible for their own travel insurance, health insurance, and personal belongings during any residency.
The Platform provides studio space (and where stated, a materials stipend) but does not provide accommodation unless explicitly stated in the individual residency terms.
The Platform does not provide insurance for artworks produced during a residency. Artists are responsible for insuring any work created.
Cancellation of a confirmed residency placement by the artist with less than 30 days' notice may result in forfeiture of any deposit paid.

Liability

The Platform is not liable for loss, damage, or theft of physical artwork at any stage — including during packaging, transit, storage, exhibition, or after sale.
The Platform makes no guarantee of sales, exhibitions, exposure, collector enquiries, or any commercial outcome whatsoever.
The Platform is not responsible for third-party platforms (including social media networks, email service providers, or payment processors) and their policies, downtime, or content removal decisions.
The Platform's total liability to any artist or buyer, for any claim arising from use of the Platform, shall not exceed the total fees paid by that party to the Platform in the 12 months preceding the claim.
The Platform is not liable for any indirect, consequential, or special losses, including lost profit, loss of reputation, or loss of data, whether or not the Platform had been advised of the possibility of such losses.
Nothing in these Terms limits liability for fraud, death or personal injury caused by negligence, or any other liability that cannot be excluded under applicable law.

Governing
Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes arising from these Terms or use of the Platform will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

The Platform reserves the right to update these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated to registered users via email with a minimum of 30 days’ notice before taking effect. Continued use of the Platform following notification constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

If you have any questions about these Terms, or wish to exercise any rights under them, please contact us. We respond to all legal correspondence within 5 business days.

Project Anonymous Artist — Legal

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Registered in England and Wales.

Contents

For Artists —Submissions