Effective Date: April 10, 2026

The Erie Blues & Jazz Festival is organized by Erie Arts & Music Festivals, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization ("we," "us," or "our"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information when you visit our website at eriebluesandjazz.com (the "Site").

By using the Site, you agree to the practices described in this policy.

Information We Collect

We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide through forms on our Site, as well as certain information collected automatically when you visit.

Information You Provide

  • Festival Updates Signup. When you subscribe to receive festival updates, we collect your email address.
  • Volunteer Application. When you apply to volunteer, we collect your name, phone number, email address, emergency contact information (including name, phone number, and preferred hospital), your preferred time slots and role preferences, and your digital signature acknowledging the volunteer agreement.
  • Talent Submission. When you apply to perform at the festival, we collect your name, phone number, email address, band or act name, number of members, set length preference, links to performances and social media, a description of your act, uploaded video files, and uploaded stage plots or input lists.
  • Artist Submission. When you submit artwork for consideration as the festival's featured artist, we collect your name, phone number, email address, website and social media links, and uploaded artwork files.
  • Vendor Application. When you apply to become a festival vendor, we collect your name, phone number, email address, business name, mailing address, vending type, items you intend to sell, setup dimensions, and power requirements.

Donations

Our online donation form is provided by Donately, a third-party donation platform, with payments processed by Stripe. When you donate, your payment information (such as credit card details) is collected and processed directly by Donately and Stripe — not by us. We may receive your name, email address, and donation amount for recordkeeping and acknowledgment purposes, but we do not have access to your full payment card information. Please refer to Donately's Privacy Policy and Stripe's Privacy Policy for details on how they handle your data.

Information Collected Automatically

Like most websites, our Site may automatically collect certain technical information when you visit, including your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URL, pages visited, and the date and time of your visit. This information is collected through server logs and may be used to help us understand how visitors use the Site and to maintain its security and performance.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

  • To communicate with you about festival updates, volunteer coordination, talent and artist selections, vendor logistics, and donation acknowledgments
  • To evaluate applications from volunteers, performers, artists, and vendors
  • To process and acknowledge donations
  • To improve the Site and the festival experience
  • To comply with legal obligations and protect our rights

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

How We Share Your Information

We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:

  • Service Providers. We may share information with trusted third-party service providers who help us operate the Site and manage festival operations (for example, our website host, email platform, and donation processor). These providers are only authorized to use your information as necessary to provide services to us.
  • Legal Requirements. We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to a valid legal request, such as a subpoena or court order.
  • Safety. We may share emergency contact information you provide in your volunteer application with medical or emergency personnel if needed during the festival.

Third-Party Services

Our Site relies on third-party services that have their own privacy practices:

We encourage you to review their privacy policies, as we do not control how these third parties collect or use your data.

File Uploads

Certain forms on our Site allow you to upload files, including performance videos, stage plots, and artwork samples. Uploaded files are stored on our web server and are used solely for the purpose of evaluating your submission. We do not share uploaded files publicly without your permission.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, including processing your application or donation, complying with legal obligations, and maintaining festival records. If you would like to request deletion of your information, please contact us using the information below.

Security

We take reasonable measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Children's Privacy

Our Site is not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us so we can take steps to delete it.

Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including the right to access, correct, or delete your data. To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at the address below. We will respond to your request in a reasonable timeframe.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, please contact us:

Erie Arts & Music Festivals (dba Erie Blues & Jazz Festival)

P.O. Box 9071

2711 Legion Road

Erie, PA 16506

You may also reach us through the contact information on our website at eriebluesandjazz.com.