What is Membership to Artalyst?
Membership is an additional role that you can voluntarily sign up for that grants you even more features on the site. Features like, image statistics, personal customizable portfolio page, access to the storyline, ability to increase in rank and aquire badges and titles, personal blogs, and more. The normal fee for a subscription membership is $3 per month. However, until all of the features are added, that will not be the price you pay right now.
Why do you need to charge me to use these features?
Artalyst maintains a "advertising free" experience. We have no annoying flashing banner ads, google ads, pop-ups or the infamous pop-unders. This site is about artist expression, not advertising weight loss miracle drugs or home loans. However, costs of running the servers, back up servers, and the accompanying bandwith that is ever so precious, needs to be addressed somehow. Previously it was paid for by the site owner and various other donations, but as we grow, that becomes increasingly more expensive.
How do I become a Memeber?
There will be a system set up once all of the features are in place so that one can pay via paypal, or credit card. But until then, you can send me a private message requesting Membership. Only a very small donation to the site may be required. To help pay for the rest of the coding and get all of the features developed and implemented. Contact me here.
Where do these donations go?
While the site is officially out of beta, there are more features planned, and currently being developed by professional developers. More features will be added as our community grows and needs are realized. Subscribing members will be the ones who benefit from the added features and conveniences. The costs of this development is more than you could imagine, and donations only help to curb the costs. Membership fees pay for this development, along with server and bandwith costs.