Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

When you create an account or submit work to REALM, we may collect the following information:

• Account information — your name, email address, and password (hashed, never stored in plain text). If you sign in via Google, LinkedIn, or Instagram, we receive the name and email associated with that account.
• Profile information — optional details you choose to provide, such as your profession, organization, location, bio, and social media links.
• Submitted content — artwork, images, videos, project descriptions, and other files you upload as part of an exhibition submission.
• Contact form messages — your name, email, and the content of any message you send through our contact page.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Administering your account and authenticating your identity
• Processing and reviewing exhibition submissions
• Communicating with you about your submissions, events, and account
• Displaying your work and public profile as part of the exhibition
• Responding to inquiries submitted through the contact form
• Improving the platform and understanding how it is used

3. How We Store Your Data

Account data and submission records are stored in a managed PostgreSQL database hosted by Vercel. Uploaded files (images, videos, and other media) are stored in Vercel Blob, a secure cloud storage service. All data is transmitted over HTTPS and stored on infrastructure provided by Vercel, Inc.

4. Third-Party Sharing

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We may share limited data with the following service providers solely to operate the platform:

• Vercel — hosting, database, and file storage
• Resend — transactional email delivery (submission confirmations, contact form responses)
• Stripe — payment processing for submission fees, if applicable
• OAuth providers — Google, LinkedIn, or Instagram, only if you choose to sign in with one of these services

These providers process data only as necessary to deliver their services and are bound by their own privacy policies.

5. Cookies and Sessions

REALM uses session cookies to keep you signed in after you log in. These cookies are essential for authentication and do not track you across other websites. We also use Vercel Analytics, which collects anonymous, aggregated usage data (page views, device type) without using cookies or collecting personally identifiable information.

6. Data Retention

Your account and submission data are retained for as long as the associated exhibition is active and for a reasonable period afterward for archival purposes. If you would like your account or submitted work removed, please contact us and we will process your request within a reasonable timeframe.

7. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate information
• Request deletion of your account and associated data
• Withdraw consent for optional data processing at any time

To exercise any of these rights, please reach out through our contact page.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will notify registered users via email. Continued use of the platform after such notification constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.