AAM has partnered with .ART to provide members with access to meaningful digital tools while creating a new, sustainable source of funding for the organization.
As a valued AAM member, you are entitled to a free .ART domain name for one year. This exclusive benefit allows you to secure a digital asset that clearly signals your connection to the art and culture community—whether for your institution, your personal portfolio, or a specific exhibition.
By participating in this program, AAM members gain a valuable digital asset for their work, and renewals help support AAM’s mission for years to come.
How It Works: The Cycle of Support
1. Claim: You register a first-year free .ART domain (including Premium names valued up to $910) using the button below.
2. Create: Use it for a website, a digital portfolio, or simply forward it to your LinkedIn profile, social platform, or the home page or specific section of an existing .org or .com site.
3. Support AAM: If you choose to renew your domain next year, a portion of your renewal fee is contributed directly to AAM for the next 10 years.
Every renewal helps fund AAM’s work in advocacy, museum excellence, and community connection.
Click the button below to select and register your complimentary domain.
Benefits for Every Member
Whether you represent a large institution or are building your own career, a .ART domain offers distinct advantages.
For Institutional Members
- Brand Protection: Secure your museum’s name (e.g., YourMuseum.art) or acronym to prevent third-party misuse.
- Microsites & Campaigns: Create memorable links for temporary exhibitions, galas, or capital campaigns.
- Deep Linking: Use a short .ART domain to redirect visitors directly to specific sections of your existing website, such as ticketing or digital archives.
For Individual Members
- Professional Identity: distinct from your institutional affiliation, establish your personal brand with YourName.art.
- Digital Portfolios: Perfect for curators, educators, and consultants to showcase CVs and past projects. Free website builder available.
- Simple Forwarding: Don’t have a website? No problem. You can forward your domain to your LinkedIn profile, Instagram, or Linktree instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the .ART domain offer for AAM members?
As part of AAM’s partnership with .ART Registry, institutional, individual, industry, and ally members of AAM may register one .ART domain name at no cost for the first year. This includes the option to choose a premium .ART domain (up to the $910 tier) or a standard .ART domain.
What is a .ART domain?
A .ART domain is a specialized top-level internet domain designed for the global arts, culture, and museum communities. It clearly identifies an organization or person’s focus on art, culture, heritage, and creative practice. Technically, it functions in the same way as a .COM or .ORG domain, but adds more context and meaning to your identity located “to the left of the dot.”
How established is .ART as a domain extension?
.ART is a well-established global domain extension trusted by museums, cultural institutions, artists, and creative professionals worldwide. Launched in 2016, there are now over 310,000 active .ART domains registered globally, used by leading museums, major brands, independent artists, and cultural organizations across more than 170 countries.
How can an individual use a .ART domain?
Individual members commonly use .ART domains for:
- A personal professional website or online presence (e.g., YourName.art)
- An online portfolio or CV
- Consulting, advisory, or independent professional practice
- Writing, research, or curatorial projects
- Speaking, teaching, or educational initiatives
- A memorable redirect to an existing website or social profile (e.g., Instagram, Etsy)
The domain may be used for any lawful professional or personal purpose.
How can an institution use a .ART domain?
Institutional members commonly use .ART domains for:
- A museum or organization’s primary website URL (e.g., Munson.art)
- A short, memorable link to a section of an existing website (e.g., BOFA.art)
- Special exhibitions or temporary programs (e.g., Porsche.art)
- Digital collections or archives (e.g., Mercedes-Benz.art)
- Education portals or public resources
- Fundraising campaigns or initiatives
- A redirect to an existing .org or .edu website (e.g., LACMA.art)
The domain may be used for any lawful purpose the institution chooses.
How much does the domain cost?
First year: Free for AAM members
Renewal: Regular annual renewal pricing applies after the first year (approximately $30 for Standard domains and $90 for Premium domains)
When the domain is renewed, a portion of the renewal fee is contributed directly to AAM for up to ten (10) years, supporting AAM’s mission and programs.
What is the difference between a Standard .ART domain and a Premium .ART domain?
Both Standard and Premium .ART domains function exactly the same technically. The difference is in the name itself and the fee structure.
- Standard .ART domains are typically longer or more specific names.
- Premium .ART domains are shorter, more memorable, or highly desirable names (such as single words, well-known terms, or widely recognized phrases).
Under this program, eligible AAM members may choose either a Standard or a Premium .ART domain (up to the $910 tier) at no cost for the first year.
Are there any SEO benefits to using a .ART domain?
Using a .ART domain does not inherently change how search engines rank a website compared to other domain extensions such as .COM or .ORG. However, .ART domains can provide indirect discoverability and user-engagement benefits by clearly signaling relevance to art, culture, and museums, which may improve click-through rates, memorability, and user trust. Search engines prioritize quality content, structure, and relevance—factors that work just as effectively on a .ART domain.
Is a .ART domain useful for brand protection?
Yes. Registering a .ART domain can be an important part of an institution’s brand protection strategy. Securing your institution’s name, exhibition titles, or key program names in .ART helps prevent misuse, confusion, or third-party registrations, while ensuring that audiences are directed to an official, trusted destination associated with your organization.
Does .ART support Web3 or digital provenance use cases?
Yes. .ART supports optional Web3 and digital provenance capabilities, including the ability to link domains to blockchain-based records or NFTs. These features are optional and do not affect standard website functionality.
Can a .ART domain be used for email addresses?
Yes. A .ART domain can be used to create professional email addresses (for example, info@museum.art or yourname@yourname.art), depending on the registrar and email service you choose. Email hosting is typically provided by third-party email services and works the same way as it does with other domain extensions such as .COM or .ORG.
Is there a long-term commitment?
No. The domain renews annually, and institutions may choose whether or not to renew each year. Auto-renewal is enabled at registration for convenience and can be managed at any time.
Why is a payment method required if the first year is free?
A payment method is required to enable automatic renewal after the first year. Auto-renewal is enabled by default at registration to help prevent accidental expiration and ensure continuity of service. You remain in full control of renewal settings and may manage or disable auto-renewal at any time through your registrar.
Who owns the .ART domain once it is registered?
You fully own and control your .ART domain through the registrar you choose. Neither AAM nor .ART claims ownership or editorial control over the domain.
Can the .ART domain be transferred to another registrar later?
Yes. .ART domains follow standard domain name rules and may be transferred between registrars in accordance with normal industry practices.
What happens if the domain is not renewed?
If you choose not to renew your .ART domain, it will simply expire like any other domain name. Once a domain expires, it becomes available once again for someone else to register it. There are no penalties or obligations associated with non-renewal.
How does this program support AAM?
When an AAM member renews a .ART domain registered through this program, a portion of the renewal revenue is paid directly to AAM for up to ten years, helping create a sustainable funding source for the organization.
Can more than one .ART domain be registered?
This program allows each eligible AAM individual member to register one .ART domain at no cost for the first year. Additional .ART domains may be registered separately at standard pricing.
What if I already have a .ART domain? Can I get another one for free under this program?
Yes. Owning an existing .ART domain does not disqualify you from this benefit. You may register one new .ART domain at no cost for the first year through this program. Please note that this offer applies strictly to a new registration (Standard or Premium – some restrictions apply); it cannot be applied retroactively to a domain you already own, nor can it be used to cover renewal fees for an existing domain.
What support is available if I have questions or need help?
.ART provides dedicated customer support for AAM members participating in this program. For assistance, contact support-AAM@art.art.
This program is made possible through the partnership between the American Alliance of Museums and .ART, the domain for the global art and culture community.
