The .ART Registry is Celebrating Its 8th Anniversary and Expanding Its Reach With a Comprehensive Commercially Released Artist Handbook 

The .ART Registry is celebrating its 8th anniversary this week. Since launching May 10, 2017 .ART has become a digital home to nearly 300,000 creatives in over 170 countries. They have gotten there by constant community building efforts both online and off. Those have included q popular webinar series featuring art and tech leaders, its Open Call offerings, and continued backing of the Healing Power of Art Initiative, including a $1 million endowment for fellowships in Art Therapy graduate studies at The George Washington University.

For this year's anniversary the registry is putting its brand into more hands offline with the commercial release of the comprehensive new Artist Handbook by .ART. The softcover book ($19.95 at Amazon) was developed with input from artists, curators, and professionals working at the intersection of art, law, tech, and funding. The publication was put together by .ART Founder Ulvi Kasimov, Editors Jeff Sass and Anastasia Sukhanov, Illustrator Medina Kasimova and six contributors.

In its 15 chapters, the Artist Handbook covers everything from developing your visual identity to licensing, contracts, grant writing, and building your presence online and in Web3. Contributors include Anna Fischer, a legal advisor specializing in intellectual property and blockchain; Lara Monro, a funding consultant who helps artists secure grants and navigate access support; and Arthur Steiner, a cultural strategist focused on funding innovation in the arts, and many others. 

The artworks featured in the handbook were selected through an Open Call at HUG.art, making this a truly collaborative publication based on the experiences and aesthetics of artists from the global .ART community. Founder Ulvi Kasimov said, “As we mark eight years of serving the global creative community, we wanted to offer something lasting and practical. This handbook reflects our belief that artists need more than inspiration—they need access, support, and tools to thrive.”

Recent highlights from the .ART community include teamLab’s record-breaking immersive exhibition in Abu Dhabi, Sharon Stone’s upcoming solo show in Rome and the launch of the Mediterranean-focused VIMA Art Fair. These are just a few examples of .ART’s efforts to empower artists, institutions, and forward-thinking brands so they can gain visibility and connect with audiences worldwide. 

ICANN is expected to open another of new TLDs next year. Hundreds of new TLDs were added to the Internet in the last wave but only a small percentage of those have thrived - those being, in almost every case, the ones that have heavily invested in time, money and resources to build a loyal following. With the next wave of new TLDs schedule to begin rolling out next year, .ART is one that serves as a reminder to potential operators that making a registry successful requires a lot more than the initial acquisition cost of a TLD. 

(Posted May 15, 2025)  

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