ARTS AND SCIENCES COMPETITION

May 14, 2005

Competition Categories for 2005:

In Order to Encourage broadest possible participation All Categories will be open. See Category List.

Current Shire Champion's Challenge Competition - Go to Challenge Page

The Shire of Granite Mountain's Arts and Sciences competition
fosters the arts and sciences among the populace of
the Shire. Its main focus is to get as many people involved in the hands-on
experience as possible, turning them into participants rather than
spectators. This includes, but is not limited to, the creation of pre-17th
century artifacts or cultural attributes items specific to the SCA
experience that are informed by pre-17th century aesthetics or
functionality.

Rules for Entry:

1. The Shire of Granite Mountain's Arts and Sciences Championship
competition shall be held annually during the Shire's May event.

2. Categories for competition shall be selected annually by populace vote.
Categories shall be drawn mainly from the Kingdom of Atenveldt's Arts and
Sciences competition guidelines but may be combined in order to best serve
the needs of the Shire.

3. Each A&S competitor must promise to uphold the rules of the competition.

4. No item may be entered which has previously been entered in an official
Shire of Granite Mountain Arts and Sciences competition.

5. All entries must be received by the Shire Minister of Arts and Science by
noon of the day of competition and will be released after closing court that
evening. Dispensations of leftover food items are at the discretion of the
A&S competitor.

6. In order to be eligible for the title of Champion, the A&S competitor
must show current proof of membership for the Society for Creative
Anachronism, have a ZIP code claimed by the Shire of Granite Mountain, and
be an active participant within the Shire.

7. Each A&S competitor is allowed a maximum of five entries consisting of
completed work. Unfinished work or kits need not apply, but items created
from commercial patterns or recipes are acceptable if shown to be authentic
within the period of history from 650 to 1650 A.D.

8. Written documentation is not required for entry but is encouraged in
order to substantiate the authenticity of submission.

9. Anonymity shall be preserved with each item entered as far is practical.
Therefore each A&S competitor will be given an entry number to affix to
their item.

10. Group entries (two or more artisans working on the same entry in the
same art form) are allowed, with each member of the group sharing the
entry's placing.

General Competition Responsibilities

The Shire Minister of Arts and Sciences shall be responsible for:
* Working closely with the Autocrat for the event. This will
allow for all parties to make sure that the total needs of the populace are
being met and no one gets left out of the decision making process.
* Commissioning a scroll for the Champion.
* Publishing the names of the winners and their achievements
in the National Squire as well as the Southwind as space allows.

Champion Responsibilities

The Champion's responsibilities to their office until the next competition
is held shall be to represent the Shire of Granite Mountain as it's
official Champion of the Arts and Sciences. This can include but is not
limited to teaching the Shire one of the skills that they have demonstrated
excellence in, writing an article for the Shire newsletter regarding the
Arts and Sciences, or creating additional regalia for the Shire.

The Shire Champion shall also be recognized by receiving the necklace for
their office to wear until the next competition. If they need to permanently
leave the Shire for any reason they must relinquish the necklace to the
Minister of Arts and Sciences for safekeeping until the next championship.

Scoring for the Populace Choice Competition:

All paid entrants to the Shire's Merry Month of May event shall receive a
token that they shall use to vote for their favorite piece of artwork
entered in the Arts and Sciences competition.

The A&S competitor with the highest number of tokens and who meets the
champion qualifications as stated in the rules, wins. In the event of a tie,
the Champion shall be determined by a joint decision between the Shire
Minister of Arts and Sciences and the highest ranking peer present at the
event. These gentles' decision shall be final.

Thanks to Lady Jehanne de la Torta de Calais for this excellent outline of the Competition