These are the rules that govern A&S competitions run in Lochac. If you need any clarification on these rules then contact Lochac’s Minister of Arts & Sciences.
In these rules, where the words “item” or “entry” are used this can also mean research paper, performance or any other display of the Arts and Sciences. “Item” and “entry” are used for ease of language.
Competitions at any event
Lochac is a very big Kingdom, and not everyone can travel to Kingdom events to have their work judged for consideration in Kingdom competitions. Thus, Lochac’s A&S competitions can be judged at any gathering approved for that purpose by the current Kingdom Minister (KMoAS). This can include A&S meetings, guild meetings, feasts, balls, tournaments, etc.
Judging will occur at all Kingdom events. These events determine the beginning and end of “competition seasons” (see below).
Competitions must be supervised by the local A&S officer, or the Kingdom Minister for Arts & Sciences, or a person deputised by the Kingdom Minister. Results for the competitions must be uploaded to the central results reporting form by the person supervising the competition. Photographs of the entries should also be provided to the KMoAS for their records.
The Categories
Winners will be announced in court, one for each category. The categories are divided according to the experience of the person who is making the item.
- Beginner: someone with 0-2 years of experience of the skill they are demonstrating
- Intermediate: someone with 3-5 years of experience of the skill they are demonstrating
- Experienced: someone with more than 5 years of experience, or a Laurel in any field.
In addition, it is possible to enter as a group of two or more people, choosing the category of the most experienced person in the group.
Youth entry forms are available for the use of entrants under the age of 18 years. Youth entries may be judged separately from the adult entries.
Pick whichever category you feel is most appropriate for you. Experience is cumulative, not elapsed. i.e. if someone practiced a skill for 18 months, 10 years ago, and enters the result into a competition – then they are a “beginner”. If the entrant kept practising that skill during the intervening ten years, their recent items would count as intermediate or experienced.
Laurels, by default, have a generally high A&S capability, and the ability to meet the rubric criteria well. Accordingly, any item entered by a Laurel should be judged in the Experienced category.
Determining a winner
The winner in each category is the person with the most points from all eligible judging sessions held around the Kingdom at the end of the competition round. A second and third place may also be announced. Points are only calculated if they are properly submitted to the Kingdom Minister of Arts and Sciences (KMoAS), preferably via the online reporting form.
A token is awarded to the top entries from each category. The token is a small bell, threaded with ribbons of red, blue and white, to represent the colours of Lochac. First place gets a gold bell. Additional places (if awarded) get a silver bell.
Competition themes and competition seasons
Every Kingdom event has three competition themes allocated to it. Entries must meet one of the three themes. Entry forms must clearly state which theme is being entered. Should an entry meet multiple themes, points will be awarded for only the stated theme. Entrants can present multiple entries for a competition, but only one per entrant will count towards their points total for that round.
A competition round is the period of time in which a specific competition theme is able to receive entries and be judged. The season commences at the end of closing court of a Kingdom Event and finishes once judging is completed at the next Kingdom event, and all scores have been tallied. The round is named for the event where the final judging is held: for example, the “May Crown Competition Round”.
Judging
There must be a minimum of two people judging an item. Judges must assess an item against the Lochac A&S judging scheme (“rubric”). Points must be allocated as fairly as possible based on the judge’s knowledge and experience. Judges are allowed to request outside advice in cases where they are unsure about an item. Judges are also allowed to ask clarifying questions of an entrant.
All items presented for judging must be scored and commentated on the Entrant and Judging Form. This form must be returned to the entrant after judging.
A single entry, presented at an eligible event in Lochac, is sufficient for a competition theme to be judged and recorded.
Photos should be taken of every entry and provided to the Kingdom Minister of Arts and Sciences, clearly labelled by event and entrant identifier (SCA name and title is preferred). Photos will be used in the highly unlikely case of challenges to decisions.
Distance entries
Entries can be posted to a competition for judging, or judged at an approved session in your local area before the Crown event for that round.
The page How to enter an A&S competition has more information on this. Documentation only entries are also possible.
Use of potentially offensive symbolism or messaging
Kingdom competitions encourage in-depth exploration of history through researching and recreating the arts and sciences. In some cases, individuals may choose to investigate potentially unpleasant or difficult avenues of research. These works could be challenging due to both historical context (e.g. violence or adult content) or to awareness of modern sensibility (such as symbols co-opted by hate groups, for example, the swastika).
Individuals may also use historical resources and extant materials that have become available through problematic means (e.g. archeological finds or colonial acquisitions) or that have been published with a contemporary bias (e.g. revisionist histories).
Artisans who enter such items in competitions in Lochac are asked to approach their research and work with special care. They are expected to:
- remain aware of potentially offensive symbolism or messaging within their works, and to treat their research and reproductions with sensitivity and understanding.
- present these materials with proper context and framing so that their historical use and purpose can be understood while trying their best to avoid offence and misunderstandings (thorough documentation and explanatory display for example).