South Africa Art Guide Logo

South Africa ArtGuide

Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 08/08/2025

1. Introduction

Welcome to the South Africa ArtGuide ("we," "us," "our"). We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy.

This Privacy Policy explains:

  • What information we collect
  • How we use and share it
  • The legal basis for processing it
  • Your rights in relation to it

This policy applies to all information collected through our website, as well as any related services, sales, marketing, or events.

By using our services, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

2. What Information Do We Collect?

2.1. Personal Information You Provide to Us

  • Content Submissions: When you voluntarily submit an event, opportunity, or story, we collect the personal information you provide (e.g., name, email address, artist names, contact details).
  • Future User Accounts: When we introduce accounts, we’ll collect details like your name, email address, and password.
  • Direct Communications: If you contact us directly, we may receive your name, email, message contents, and any other details you choose to provide.

2.2. Information We Collect Automatically

  • Log & Usage Data: IP address, browser type/version, operating system, pages visited, time/date of visit, and related statistics.
  • Cookies & Similar Technologies: Used for tracking activity, improving services, and advertising purposes. See Section 6 for details.

2.3. Information from Publicly Available Sources

To keep our guide comprehensive, we may collect:

  • Event titles, dates, and descriptions
  • Venue names and addresses
  • Names of participating artists

3. Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal information under the following legal grounds (depending on your location):

  • Consent: When you have given us clear permission to process your personal data for a specific purpose.
  • Contractual Necessity: When processing is required to perform a contract we have with you or to take steps at your request before entering into a contract.
  • Legal Obligation: When processing is necessary for us to comply with a legal requirement.
  • Legitimate Interests: When processing is necessary for our legitimate business purposes, provided these interests are not overridden by your rights and freedoms.

4. How Do We Use Your Information?

We use collected information to:

  • Provide and Maintain Our Service: Publish event, art space, and editorial listings.
  • Manage Submissions: Review, publish, and follow up on user-submitted content.
  • Improve Our Website: Understand user behaviour to enhance our services.
  • Marketing & Advertising: Show relevant ads (e.g., Google AdSense) and use affiliate links.
  • Legal & Security Purposes: Comply with legal obligations, prevent fraud, and ensure site safety.

5. How and Why Do We Share Your Information?

We do not sell your personal information. We may share it:

  • With the Public: Any information you submit for publication will be visible on our site.
  • With Service Providers: Including:
    • Hosting & Deployment: Vercel
    • Content Management & Database: Sanity.io
    • Image Hosting & CDN: Cloudinary
    • Website Analytics: Google Analytics
    • Advertising: Google AdSense
  • As Required by Law: To comply with legal processes.
  • For Business Transfers: In cases of mergers, acquisitions, or sales.

6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Cookies help us remember preferences, analyse traffic, and deliver relevant ads.

  • Functionality: Store your settings.
  • Analytics: Track usage patterns.
  • Advertising: Deliver targeted, relevant promotions.

You can refuse cookies in your browser, but some site features may not work. We request consent for non-essential cookies via a banner.

7. International Transfers of Information

We’re based in South Africa but use global technology providers. Your information may be stored/processed in countries with different data protection laws.

We take measures to comply with laws like POPIA (South Africa) and GDPR (EU).

8. How Long Do We Keep Your Information?

We retain personal information only as long as necessary, unless a longer period is required by law (e.g., for tax or legal obligations).

9. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

  • Access your personal data
  • Rectify inaccurate information
  • Erase your personal data ("right to be forgotten")
  • Object to data processing
  • Withdraw consent at any time

South African residents may lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator (South Africa) if they believe their data is being misused.

10. Security of Your Information

We use administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information, but no system is 100% secure.

11. Data Breach Notification

If we become aware of a data breach that affects your personal information, we will:

  • Notify you promptly, where required by law
  • Provide details of the breach, including the type of data involved and potential risks
  • Inform the relevant regulatory authority (e.g., the Information Regulator in South Africa) where legally required

12. Policy for Children

We do not knowingly collect data from anyone under 18. If such data is found, it will be deleted immediately.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Changes will be indicated by a revised Effective Date.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions, comments, or wish to exercise your privacy rights, please contact us.