Arts & Sciences Categories

For Three Pillars entries, ‘SCA period’ means pre-17^th c. western Europe and cultures known to be in contact with Europe during that time.

If an entrant wishes to enter the Arts & Sciences contests anonymously, they should attach their name on a removable page to each piece being entered and not place identifying information anywhere else.

Bardic Arts:  Entrants may submit up to three original poems, songs, or other performance pieces, but only the highest scoring piece will be counted.  Pieces will be judged for technical skill, artistic merit, and historical authenticity (form/style, subject matter, and/or language from an SCA-appropriate culture and time period).  Pieces must be submitted in written form.  Documentation is highly recommended (describe methods and materials used, sources consulted).  Extra points will be given for performing the piece for the judges, but this is not required.  The winning piece may be performed at the Prize Court.

Decorated Useful Object:  May be of any material:  cloth, fiber, wood, metal, ceramic, glass, paper, stone, leather, etc.; includes scribal pieces.  Items will be scored on decoration, workmanship, usefulness, historical authenticity, and documentation.  Object must be useful.  The entrant must have made the object.  Documentation is highly recommended (describe methods and materials used, sources consulted).  Entrant need not be present for judging.

Brewing:  This year, the beverages will be beer and ale; both types may be entered.  Entrants may submit up to three items total, but only the highest scoring entry will be counted.  Judging will be based on historical authenticity, taste, and other usual brewing criteria.  A label with a full list of ingredients is required.  Documentation is highly recommended (describe methods and materials used, sources consulted).  Entrant need not be present for judging.

Games:  This year’s game is “Laugh and Lie Down,” a period card game for groups of 5 players.  The game is fast-paced, easy to learn, and rewards observant players.  Possibly the first "fishing" game in the western world, it has similarities to Go Fish and Rummy, but is a unique experience overall.  The objective is to earn tokens by capturing cards every turn; if you can't, you're out for that round!  The player with the most tokens at the end of play wins.  Complete rules, tokens, and cards will be provided.  Any disputes will be settled by the judge.

Costuming:  Costume may be based on any SCA-appropriate time period and culture.  Documentation is required (describe methods and materials used, sources consulted). Entries should be presented at the Baronial Pavilion on Saturday.  When presenting, costume must be worn by the person it was made for, in order for judges to gauge fit.  Entrant should be present to answer judges’ questions.