NALA

What is NALA?

NALA is a highly innovative online platform designed to connect Artists directly with Art Lovers through the power of data science. Unlike traditional social media platforms, NALA focuses on creating meaningful connections by matching Artists with buyers whose taste profiles align with their work. Our sophisticated fine art algorithm, developed by a team of data scientists from MIT and art market specialists from London, analyses various factors such as genre, medium, and technique to facilitate smart connections between artists and art lovers. Our goal is to provide Artists with autonomy in a global market environment while offering Art Lovers a curated experience beyond the confines of traditional art market output.

How can I sign up for NALA?

Artists create their accounts via our web sign up here, whereas Art Lovers join via the app here. If you are interested in both an Artist and an Art Lover account, you can create two individual accounts via the above links. Please make sure to use different email addresses for your Artist and Art Lover Accounts.

Is NALA available worldwide?

Yes, NALA is accessible globally, allowing Artists and Art Lovers from around the world to connect. Our web and app versions are currently available in English language only.

Can I Use NALA on mobile devices?

Yes. Our website and Artist dashboard are available via any browser on your phone. The app is available for iOS (iPhone) via the App Store and Android will be available from April 2024.

Data Science behind NALA

At NALA, data science is at the core of our platform, enabling us to make intelligent recommendations based on user preferences. Similar to how Spotify suggests songs or Netflix recommends movies, our algorithms analyse patterns in metadata associated with user interactions, allowing us to understand and cater to each users’ unique tastes.

We're excited to introduce a groundbreaking new feature: ECHO leverages deep learning technology, allowing users to upload photos and discover artworks that match the "feel" or aesthetic of the uploaded image. This feature aims to make art more accessible and engaging while enhancing the museum experience for visitors worldwide.

How does NALA protect user privacy and security?

At NALA, safeguarding user privacy and ensuring the security of our platform are top priorities. We employ a multi-layered approach to protect user data and maintain the integrity of our system.

Data Encryption: All data transmitted between users' devices and our servers is encrypted using industry-standard encryption protocols. This ensures that sensitive information, such as login credentials and personal details, remains secure and inaccessible to unauthorized parties.

Secure Authentication: We implement robust authentication mechanisms to verify the identity of users and prevent unauthorized access to accounts. This includes measures such as password hashing, two-factor authentication, and account recovery processes to enhance security while maintaining user convenience.

Privacy Controls: Users have granular control over their privacy settings, allowing them to manage their profile visibility, choose who can view their artwork prices, and control communication preferences. We respect user preferences regarding data sharing and never disclose personal information to third parties without explicit consent.

Data Minimization: We adhere to the principle of data minimization, collecting only the necessary information required to provide our services. We do not store unnecessary or excessive user data, minimizing the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access.

User Education: We prioritize user education on privacy and security best practices through informative resources, guides, and notifications. This empowers users to make informed decisions and take proactive measures to protect their privacy while using our platform.

Prompt Incident Response: In the event of a security incident or data breach, we have established protocols for prompt incident response and notification to

By implementing these comprehensive measures, NALA is committed to providing a secure and trustworthy platform where users can confidently connect, share, and discover art without compromising their privacy or security. We continuously monitor and improve our security practices to adapt to evolving threats and ensure the ongoing protection of our users' data.

Can I Use NALA to discover art events and exhibitions?

You will soon be able to find global art events conveniently via our website under ‘Events’ - to make even more connections, in real life (because you already have us for the online version of the art market)

Tech Issues / Suggestions

If you encounter any technical issues or have suggestions for improving the platform, we'd love to hear from you. Please reach out to us directly at [email protected]. We're committed to delivering the best possible experience for artists and are continuously integrating new features to enhance the platform.

Where do I register?

You can register as an artist on NALA by visiting our website here. Once registered, you can create and edit your profile, as well as manage your messages. The Artist Dashboard is accessible on the NALA web version, while art lovers can download the app to discover and match with artists.

What types of artwork can I showcase on NALA?

You can upload various types of your artwork on NALA, including paintings, drawings, sculptures, photography and more. We currently do not allow digital art / non-physical works. All works listed have to be produced by the account-holding artist, finished and available for sale, including editions. We currently do not allow resales, secondary market or sales via third parties.

What is a Certificate of Authenticity and how do I provide one for my buyers?

CoA is a document, usually signed by the Artist, that acts as proof of authenticity for the purchased work. We recommend issuing these for every work you sell. It should state the Artist Name, Artwork Title, Year, Medium, signature (signed/ unsigned, if signed its placement: front lower corner, verso, etc.) and Measurements as listed and produced and should be signed by the Artist.

CoAs for Editions should also list the full edition number and the specific number in the edition of the work, for example Ed. 2/10.

Certificates of Authenticity are a common document requested at point of primary sale, ideally issued by the Artist studio, that come with every original work of art. Sometimes galleries issue these documents too, although auction houses might not always accept those for provenance records. On the secondary market, they act as the most important part of authentication and act as provenance alongside invoices, gallery show documentation, museum and cataloguing references.

We recommend to all our artists to issue these for all of their sales and ideally number the certificates to keep track of all their outgoing artworks and their documentation to build

How do I sell my work on NALA?

Selling your artwork on NALA is straightforward. Simply connect with art lovers on the platform and sell your work directly to them. Unlike traditional art market platforms, NALA does not charge any commission fees, empowering artists to showcase and sell their work without financial barriers. We are continually enhancing the sales process on NALA, with upcoming features that will integrate payment, shipping, and insurance services to streamline the process for both artists and collectors.

Be prepared to discuss the following points during the sales progress:

• Location: Where does the work ship from?

• Retail Price & Shipping Price: What is the final sales price, and how much is shipping?

• Estimate: We recommend getting a shipping estimate based on the destination of the shipping (buyers location) to offer your buyer a convenient overall price (retail incl. shipping)

• Invoice: Once all details of the sale have been agreed, send your buyer a studio invoice via email

• Payment: How would you like to be paid?

• Ship the work timely and in the condition as discussed with your buyer, include the CoA in your shipment and are the tracking number with the buyer.

• Email [email protected] if you require any support during the sales process

How can I get featured as an Artist on NALA Website/ Social Media/ Mailouts/ Live Events?

Artists may be featured on NALA’s additional Marketing Exposure & Events based on the quality and uniqueness of their work, as well as their engagement with the community. Keep creating and interacting with Art Lovers on the platform and our social channels to increase your visibility. For live events, including art fairs and exhibitions, we will send our subscribed Artists an Email in advance to apply for showing their work at the advertised upcoming event for free. Our curatorial team will reach out to all successful NALA Artist applicants directly.

How much does NALA cost for an Artist?

After a free 30-day free trial period, our Artists accounts are subject to an only $9 USD per month subscription fee (no strings attached) for unlimited artwork uploads and Art Lover Matches. NALA will never charge you any commission fee for sales you conduct to your NALA Art Lover Matches.

Subscription & Billing

Artists can manage their subscription and billing details conveniently via the Billing section of their NALA account, powered by Stripe. Please make sure to enter your Stripe Email address in the billing section (not your NALA login email address - in case they differ). All billing is handled by Stripe and NALA does not hold any credit card information by their Users.

How does NALA handle copyright and intellectual property rights for artists?

At NALA, we prioritize the protection of artists' copyright and intellectual property rights. We have established policies and procedures to ensure that artists retain ownership of their artwork and that their rights are respected throughout the platform.

Ownership and Attribution: Artists maintain full ownership of the intellectual property rights to their artwork uploaded to NALA. When artists upload their work to the platform, they grant NALA a non-exclusive license to display and distribute their artwork solely for the purpose of promoting and facilitating interactions between Artists and Art Lovers. NALA respects artists' rights to attribution and ensures that proper credit is given to the creators of the artwork.

Copyright Infringement Reporting: We have implemented mechanisms for reporting copyright infringement and intellectual property violations on the platform. If an artist believes that their copyrighted work has been used without authorization or in violation of their intellectual property rights, they can submit a copyright infringement report to NALA. Our team promptly investigates such reports and takes appropriate action, including removing infringing content and,if necessary, suspending or banning users who repeatedly violate copyright laws.

Content Moderation: We employ content moderation practices to prevent the unauthorized use or distribution of copyrighted material on NALA. Our team regularly monitors user-generated content and employs automated tools to detect and remove infringing material. We also provide educational resources and guidelines to users on copyright laws and best practices for respecting intellectual property rights.

Terms of Service and User Agreement: Our Terms of Service and User Agreement outline the rights and responsibilities of users regarding intellectual property rights on the platform. By agreeing to these terms upon registration, users acknowledge their obligation to respect the intellectual property rights of others and refrain from infringing on copyrighted material.

Legal Compliance: We comply with applicable copyright laws and regulations, including the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) in the United States and similar legislation in other jurisdictions. In cases of copyright disputes or legal inquiries, we cooperate with copyright holders and law enforcement authorities to resolve issues in accordance with the law.

By implementing these measures, NALA is committed to upholding the copyright and intellectual property rights of artists while fostering a supportive and creative environment for sharing and discovering art. We continuously review and update our policies to ensure compliance with evolving legal standards and industry best practices.

How does NALA protect uploaded artwork from being integrated into any generative art programs?

We have implemented extensive measures to safeguard artwork on our platform from being scraped or collected by generative art programs. NALA is dedicated to supporting real-world artists, and we do not allow AI-generated or generative art on our platform or non-physical artworks for sale.

How do I edit my account details?

You can edit your account details, including your profile and artwork, by accessing the Settings tab on the Artist dashboard navigation menu. We encourage artists to keep their profiles updated with the latest information and high-resolution images to maximize exposure.

Profile & Artwork Tagging - Best Practices

To ensure your work is discoverable by suitable Art Lovers, it's essential to tag your artwork accurately. During account setup and artwork upload, you'll be prompted to choose tags that best represent your work. If you feel any tags are missing to accurately describe your work, feel free to suggest them to us in the tag search field, and we'll review them for inclusion.

How can I contact NALA support?

Please email [email protected] for any questions you might have or support you might need.

Where do I register on NALA?

Art Lovers - New Art Enthusiasts and seasoned Collectors alike - join the NALA community via the app here. Anyone who is interested in Art and would like to find out more about what they like, or want to find new art and Artists from all over the world, can sign up to NALA for free. The NALA App is currently available via the App Store and will be available for Android from April 2024.

How can I discover new artists and artwork on NALA?

The NALA App has been designed as a simple Discover Page and Profile Menu to help Art Lovers find art they intuitively like. Our continuous feed of art can be liked and disliked to receive Matches by Artists and works you like to start a conversation with the Artist. At the time, the Art Lover activity teaches our algorithm its taste so that the ideal artworks can be suggested to create ideal Matches.

Can I purchase artwork directly from NALA?

You can purchase art directly from the Artists you match with: NALA currently does not have an in-built payment & shipping system and you can arrange the artwork purchase directly with the Artist. You will however soon be able to choose from automated services that arranges insured payment & shipping for you at a fee via NALA.

What should I look out for when buying directly from Artists?

We recommend checking with the artist if the work is signed, if it comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and a studio invoice. If the artist has had exhibitions in the past, we recommend asking for a bio and a list of any publications that mention the Artist, if available. We recommend agreeing on a shipping provider and appropriate insurance as well as tracking, so that you can follow your shipment until it arrives with you safely.

Can I negotiate over the price of a work with an Artist?

The Artists on NALA list their work at their own prices. Whereas it is common to negotiate at galleries/ with art dealers over the sales price of an artwork, please remember that these prices usually have 50%+ commissions built into their listed retail price, meaning that the sales people have a lot of room to give you discounts. The full sales price on NALA goes to the Artist as we do not take any commission for sales, therefore you will be able to purchase works at a lower price whilst being ensured that all funds go to the Artists. This means that there might be less or no room for negotiations, but you are welcome to respectfully ask the Artist about this on an individual basis.

Can I create collections of artwork on NALA?

Yes! In the side menu of the app you can find a section called My Likes, which brings you to a menu of liked artworks and Artists. From there you can come back to and curate your most loved works and contact the Artists, if you haven’t already. We recommend starting the conversation with an Artist right after a Match to not miss out on the artworks you liked the most. If you ever need assistance during the process, please email [email protected].

Are my initial preferences chosen at account creation influencing what I see on my Discover feed?

Your initial settings get the NALA algorithm going and show you works that fit your favorite categories - the more you like and dislike, the more you will see what fits your taste!

What is ECHO?

Echo is a groundbreaking new tool exclusive to NALA that finds artworks similar to what you feed it - If you find an artwork you love at the museum, you can upload a photo of it to ECHO and it will find you original and available artworks by Artists that you can then contact directly. Rather than buying a poster that won’t hold value - buy an original work by a living artist that you love. By leveraging deep learning technology, ECHO allows users to upload photos and discover artworks that match the "feel" or aesthetic of the uploaded image. This feature aims to make art more accessible and engaging while enhancing the museum experience for visitors worldwide.

How can I contact NALA support?

Please email [email protected] for any questions you might have.