Arts & Sciences

"Arts & Sciences" refers broadly to all arts and sciences practised in the Medieval and Renaissance periods, and in the SCA generally excludes combat/martial arts. The term is commonly abbreviated "A&S", though when speaking or writing formally, or when speaking to a non-SCA audience, this abbreviation is best avoided.

A distinction commonly given between "arts" and "sciences" is that an "art" is an activity where the practitioner creates unique items, and a "science" is an activity where a series of very similar products is produced. For example, pewter casting is commonly defined as a science, whereas carving molds for pewter casting is an art. This distinction is a blurry one at best, however. Cooking, for example has elements of both art and science.

The Arts & Sciences office is responsible for facilitating the education of people both within and outside the SCA in the arts and sciences of the Medieval and Renaissance periods.

A&S Kingdom Officers & Groups

• Minister of Arts and Sciences
• Chancellor of Collegium Caidis
• Deputy Minister of Combat Studies
• Ars Caidis
• Pentathlon

Arts & Sciences Include

Nearly every member of the Kingdom practices one or more Art or Science, which are nearly as diverse as the populace. Below is an incomplete list of Arts and Sciences practiced:

• Bardic Arts (vocal and instrumental music, poetry, storytelling, etc.)
• Brewing (alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages)
• Costuming (sewing, tailoring, haberdashery, cobbling, etc.)
• Culinary Arts (cooking, redacting, sotelties, etc.)
• Dance (researching, teaching and performing dances)
• Fiber Arts (spinning, weaving, embroidery, dyeing, rope-making, etc.)
• Heraldic Art (flags and banners, emblazoning armor, etc.)
• Metal Arts (armoring, weapon-making, casting, blacksmithing, etc.)
• Research
• Scribal Arts (calligraphy, illumination, bookbinding, etc.)
• Wood Arts (furniture-making, carving, pyrography, etc.)

Classes and Competitions

A listing of the regularly scheduled A&S classes and competitions in Caid.

Check the Kingdom Calendar for exact schedule and competition information for each event.

When	Event	Sponsor	Notes	Current event info (include year)
Twice a year	Festival of the Rose (FotR)	Varies	An Arts and Science event in honor of Her Highness or Majesty. The day consists of A&S displays, bardic performances, and sometimes classes. Usually no competation, but a good chance for feed back on your A&S projects.
Monthly	Medieval Sunday in the park	Dun Or	Cracked Pots Culinary Guild Contest	Categories are determined during Council meetings
Monthly	Altavia Culinary Guild period potluck at Monday night fighter practic	Altavia Culinary Guild	Not a competition. A chance to share and discuss period food	Theme announced on Altavia lists or contact cooksguild@sca-altavia.org
Spring (usually)	Robin Hood Archery / Thrown Weapons Tournament	Angels	A&S competition
February	Arts & Archery	Lyondemere	Baronial A&S Champion, and a people's choice winner
February	Filthy Dirty Collegium	Shire of the Isles	There are also usually people's choice dessert and bardic competitions as part of the pot-luck feast after the Collegium
March	Collegium Caidis	Kingdom	2 days of Classes in A&S and a variety of topics
April	Dun Or Anniversary	Dun Or	Arts and Science Competition	2013 Theme: handmade and period correct
April	Pentathlon	Kingdom	Kingdom A&S champion. Held in odd numbered years. (2013, 2015 ...)
May	Potrero War	Calafia	Has a block of Arts and Sciences throughout the war, including: Classes Bardic performances Scriptorium Youth
May (usually)		Shire of Darach	People's Choice A&S competition
May	Altavia Anniversary	Altavia	Baronial Arts Champion
July	Lyondemere Anniversary	Lyondemere	People's Choice
July	Summer Arts	Dreiburgen	Classes and Baronial A&S champion
September	Highland War	al-Sahid	Classes in an air conditioned classroom in a building nearby. Brewing Competition	2013: Fashion Show and an A&S Display 2013 (and most year): Don't forget to bring your best homebrews for the Brewing Competition to be judged on Saturday morning. We want your hand-crafted beverages, both alcoholic such as beers, wines, meads, sake, cordials, liqueurs, spiced wines (like hippocras and claree) and non-alcoholic items like vinegars, sekanjabins, soda, and syrups. The Brewing Contest will be held on Saturday. All brewers are welcome and there is no charge for entry. Entries will be accepted from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the A&S Pavilion (the Stone Pavilion). Judging will begin promptly at noon. There are three categories: Beers, Wines & Meads & Everything Else. You can enter as many bottles as you desire. Documentation is not required but highly desired. Please put your name and title of the beverage on the bottle for the judges. Donal will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Make sure you put in the subject line "Highland Brewing"
September	Angels Anniversary	Angels	Baronial Arts Champion	2013 theme: 'A mile in their shoes' we will be having at least 3 categories: Angel's A&S Champion, People's Choice Winner, and a Youth Division Winner. Documentation ~is~ required for the A&S Champion competition. People can enter as many entries as they wish. The use of appreciation tokens is very welcomed.
October	Great Western War	Right Noble Brewers' Guild of Caid	Multi-Kingdom Brewing Contest	Information can be found at: http://brewers.sca-caid.org/GWW.shtml
October	Great Western War	GWW A&S	Classes Contests	2013 contests: People's Choice Challenge: Entrants are welcome to stay and discuss their entries. Winners will be announced and prizes awarded in A&S at 3:00 pm. (Winners will also be recognized in court.) I MADE IT AT THE WAR (anything completed at GWW XV) UnFinished Objects (UFO): with interesting stories about why it is unfinished WOOL-TO-WHATEVER on-site Competition, see rules at http://caid-gww.org/class_list.php
November	Isles Anniversary	Shire of the Isles	People's choice A&S competition	The theme of the competition is based on the theme of the event.
December	Winter Arts	Calafia	Baronial A&S Champion and Bardic Champion
December	Yule	Altavia	Baronial Bardic champion
December	Yule	Angels	Baronial Bardic champion: No Holds Bardic
December	Lyondemere/Gyldenholt Yule	Lyondemere	LyonBard competition

Appreciation Tokens

Greetings, Angels!

There has been interest and curiosity regarding appreciation tokens - particularly in giving them in A&S competitions (such as the upcoming Pentathalon).

Here are some answers to various questions I've gotten about tokens -

• What exactly is an Appreciation Token?
  • They are a material symbol of your thanks and admiration. A pretty trinket to remind the recipient that their work was appreciated by someone, that their craft and art has made someone's day brighter. The token itself can be as 'minor' as a piece of candy or a shiny bead, or as elaborate as a cast coin with the giver's own badge and motto on it.

• Is it just Laurels who can give them out?
  • No. Anyone can give out a token, just as anyone can go up to a person and tell them, 'thank you', or 'awesome job'.

• Do I have to make them myself?
  • While I find it fun to make my own, tokens do not have to be made by the person giving them, or even be handmade. Small candies are a common token often given out. If you don't want to risk something edible, there are plenty of other items that can be bought, ranging up and down the expense scale. Some of the first things I bought so as to have a few appreciation tokens on hand were jewelry pendants found at Michaels on clearance. Beads are another common token to hand out, and those can also be found without digging too deeply into your pocket. Then, there are many artesian who can custom make tokens for you by commission- cast coins, clay tiles, stamped leather, etc. Quite simply, if you are unable to make tokens, there are plenty of other options at hand that will be appreciated and treasured by the recipient.

• Are they just for Arts and Sciences competitions?
  • Certainly not! They can be given as a 'thank you' to the young man who helps you pack up your camp. They can be given as a 'welcome' to the brand-new SCA member being introduced to her Baron and Baroness for the first time. Any time you think someone deserves a special token to commemorate a particular moment, it is a souvenir for the recipient to hold on to long after that moment has passed.

• What are things I can give out?
  • You are limited only by your imagination! (And by the size and weight of what you want to carry.) Aside from the ideas mentioned above, here are other items I've seen given out: medieval rubber duckies, calling cards with personal written comments, bits of kumihimo cord tied in pretty knots, origami figures, antique game pieces, and jewelry charms. I've even seen appreciation tokens left behind by a child- craft 'popsicle' sticks brightly decorated with markers.

I hope this helps to answer people's questions. Of course, the greatest appreciation 'token' a person can always give is a sincere, heartfelt, "Thank you so much for doing this!".

YIS

~Lady Arianna Foxford, Minister (most sinister) of Arts and Sciences.

Comme Un Renard (Come to the Art Side. We have cookies!)

February 26, 2013

More Information

• Official A&S Web Site

Research Resources in Caid lists modern resources such as museum exhibits and lectures. Updated semi-annually.

Officers of Caid
Offices: Crown, Arts & Sciences, Chatelaine, Chronicler, Constable, Exchequer, Herald, Lists, Marshal, Seneschal, Webwright, Youth Officer Groups: Army, College of Heralds, College of Scribes, Collegium Caidis, Crown Prints, Newcomers Guild, Water Bearer Guild Other Information: Caidan Law, Greater Officer of State, Lesser Officer of State, Guilds, Officer Hierarchy, Privy Council