Legal

Privacy Policy

Last updated: 23 October 2026

This policy explains what personal information DOT (Developing Our Traditions) collects when you visit dotguild.org or contact us, why we collect it, and the choices you have. We keep it as plain as we can.

Who we are

DOT is a UK creative guild that gives Muslim artists and creatives a platform to showcase their work, share dialogue and build community. For the purposes of UK data protection law (the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018), DOT is the data controller for the information described here.

You can contact us about anything in this policy at info@dotguild.org.

What we collect

When you email us. If you write to us (for example to join the guild, take part in an exhibition or sign up for news), we receive your name, email address and whatever you choose to include in your message.

When you browse the site, with your consent. If you accept cookies, Google Analytics collects information such as the pages you visit, how long you stay, the device and browser you use, and your approximate location (town or region, not your exact address). Google AdSense may also use cookies to show adverts and, if you allow it, to personalise them.

When you browse the site, without consent. If you decline cookies, Google tags are told not to store cookies or personal identifiers. Google may still receive basic, cookieless signals (such as that a page was loaded) to measure the site and serve non-personalised or limited adverts.

Technical data. Like every website, our web host keeps short-term server logs that record your IP address, browser type and the pages requested. These are used to keep the site running and secure. Our fonts are served by Google Fonts, which means your browser sends your IP address to Google to download them; Google Fonts does not set cookies.

We do not ask for, and do not want, sensitive information such as health details. Please do not send it to us.

Why we use it and our lawful basis

• Replying to you and running guild activities such as exhibitions, meet-ups and newsletters: our legitimate interests in running the guild, or your consent where you have asked to join a mailing list.
• Analytics to understand which pages are useful and improve the site: your consent.
• Personalised advertising, which helps cover the cost of running the site: your consent.
• Non-personalised adverts, security and server logs: our legitimate interests in keeping the site free, working and safe.

Who we share it with

We do not sell your personal information. We share it only with the services that run the site:

• Google (Google Analytics, Google AdSense, Google Fonts and Google's consent banner). Google's own use of data is described at How Google uses information from sites that use its services.
• Our web hosting provider, which stores the site and its server logs.
• Our email provider, which stores messages you send us.

Links on the site to Instagram, Facebook, X and other websites take you to services with their own privacy policies; we are not responsible for how they handle your data.

International transfers

Google may process data outside the UK, including in the United States. Where this happens, transfers are protected by recognised safeguards such as the UK Extension to the EU-US Data Privacy Framework or standard contractual clauses.

How long we keep it

• Emails: for as long as we need them to deal with your enquiry or your involvement with the guild, and no longer than two years after our last contact unless you ask us to keep you on a mailing list.
• Google Analytics data: no longer than 14 months, after which it is deleted automatically.
• Cookies: for the periods listed in our Cookie Policy.

Your rights

Under UK data protection law you have the right to:

• ask for a copy of the personal information we hold about you;
• ask us to correct information that is wrong or incomplete;
• ask us to delete your information;
• ask us to restrict or stop using your information, or object to how we use it;
• ask for your information in a portable format;
• withdraw your consent at any time, for example by changing your choices in Cookie Settings.

To use any of these rights, email info@dotguild.org. We will reply within one month.

If you are unhappy with how we have handled your information, please tell us first so we can put it right. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk or on 0303 123 1113.

Children

This site is not aimed at children under 13 and we do not knowingly collect their information. If you believe a child has sent us personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The date at the top shows when it last changed.