Community Guidelines

1. Be respectful

Treat artisans, members, and ArtisansVillage staff and volunteers with courtesy. Disagree about craft and technique all you like, but do not attack people. Not allowed: harassment, bullying, threats, hate speech, slurs, or discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, or similar characteristics.

2. Be authentic

• Post only work you made, or that your studio made under your direction, unless you clearly label it otherwise (for example, vintage or curated items, where allowed).
• Describe materials, techniques, origin, and dimensions honestly.
• Do not present mass-produced, resold, or drop-shipped goods as handmade.
• AI disclosure: if AI generated or substantially altered an image or design of your work, say so. Photos must show the actual piece; AI-generated mockups must be labeled.
• One person or business per account. Do not impersonate anyone or create accounts to evade a suspension.

3. Respect intellectual property

Do not post or promote work that copies another artisan's designs, photos, patterns, or writing without permission, or that uses trademarks, logos, or characters you are not licensed to use. Counterfeits and knockoffs are not allowed. Credit inspiration where you can. If someone has copied your work, report it through the copyright process in our Terms of Service.

4. Prohibited items and services

Do not list, promote, or offer:

• Weapons, ammunition, explosives, and weapon parts
• Drugs, drug paraphernalia, alcohol, tobacco, vape products, and CBD or cannabis products
• Recalled items, or items that do not meet safety rules, especially products for children
• Food, cosmetics, supplements, or medical claims that require regulatory approval you don't have
• Animal products from protected species, and live animals
• Hazardous materials
• Adult or sexually explicit content or items
• Items that promote hate, violence, or illegal activity
• Counterfeit or infringing goods
• Services that are illegal or require a license you don't hold

We may remove other items that create risk for the community at our discretion.

5. Keep content appropriate

Content should be suitable for a general audience. No nudity or sexual content, graphic violence or gore, or shocking imagery. Artistic work involving the human form should be tasteful and is subject to our review.

6. Honest reviews and engagement

• Comment on and review only experiences you actually had.
• Do not pay, trade, or pressure anyone for reviews, write reviews of your own work, or post fake reviews of others.
• Do not buy followers, likes, or engagement, or use bots.
• If you received something free or were paid to promote it, disclose that.

7. Transactions and safety

• Keep communication about pieces and commissions honest and professional.
• Be cautious of anyone who pressures you to pay by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency, asks for your password or verification codes, or sends links to unfamiliar payment pages. These are common scams.
• ArtisansVillage staff will never ask for your password.
• Do not use ArtisansVillage to arrange transactions designed to avoid our fees or protections.
• Artisans are responsible for their own policies on shipping, returns, and custom orders, and should state them clearly.
• When meeting someone in person, meet in a public place and use your judgment. ArtisansVillage does not screen or background-check users.

8. Protect privacy

Do not post or share anyone's personal information, such as home address, phone number, private messages, or photos of identifiable people, without their permission. Do not dox, stalk, or contact people who have asked you to stop. Use a customer's information only to complete their order.

9. No spam

Promote your work through your profile, gallery, and events. Do not flood comments, messages, or our social pages with promotions, links, or repeated content, and do not send unsolicited bulk messages.

10. At events and on our social channels

These guidelines apply in person and on ArtisansVillage social media. At events, follow staff instructions, venue rules, and safety codes; respect other vendors' space and work; and ask before photographing someone's booth or work up close. We may remove anyone from an event, or hide comments and block accounts on our social pages, for violating these guidelines.

11. Reporting and appeals

Report a concern using the report option on the content or profile, or email info@artisansvillage.com. Include links and screenshots where you can. If anyone is in immediate danger, contact local emergency services first.

Appeals. If your content was removed or your account was restricted and you think we made a mistake, email info@artisansvillage.com within 30 days with the subject "Appeal." We will review it and let you know our decision.

12. Enforcement

We review reports and may act on our own. Depending on severity and history, we may remove content, limit features, issue a warning, suspend, or permanently close an account, remove someone from an event, or report illegal activity to law enforcement. Serious violations, such as threats, fraud, or illegal items, may lead to immediate permanent removal without warning.

We moderate in our discretion and cannot review everything. Our decisions to act, or not act, do not mean we approve of any content or guarantee anyone's safety, accuracy, or honesty. These guidelines may change as the community grows.