Arts and Sciences

Arts and Sciences in the SCA is about our members developing the skills and crafts that existed in our period. Making clothes, cooking the food, learning the music or dances, leatherwork, calligraphy and illumination... the list is long and varied. If anything was made in period, chances are there is someone in the Society that practices that skill.

Knowledge is shared through formal and informal means. The group may hold an event centered around Arts and Sciences, there may be social media groups and channels for those interested, or people may simply bring a craft to an event to keep their hands busy. We will organise collegiums where you can come along and join the learning, or you can join in with groups who are doing regular get-togethers.

Members in the shire are currently exploring among other things pottery, pewter casting, natural dyeing, whittling and brewing.

The Arts and Sciences officer is the person in the group who fosters and facilitates these activities, and is also a point of contact if you wish to get involved in any of them. Please email our A&S officer for more information.

Calendar of collegiums:

Dyeing day - date TBA
Lady Elizabeth Haworth

Pottery day - date TBA
Lady Aelfwyn the Pottre

Kingdom competitions

The kingdom of Lochac runs regular Arts & Sciences competitions. You can find information and resources at the kingdom website.

The following topics have been set for Lochac’s A&S competitions. Further topics will be announced as they are decided.

In general, topics follow this schema:

• Topic 1: Something reasonably specific, to encourage easy ideas and creative tension

• Topic 2: A technique or concept, to inspire those who follow a particular craft

• Topic 3: A ‘persona hook’ linking to a time/place/culture (as this is often how we talk about and identify our areas of interest in the Society), or a Very Broad Topic, to interpret as you will.

Topics are often deliberately broad in scope, so that the populace can find regular opportunities for the things that interest them. Themes may be repeated (e.g. 14th Century, Norse culture, 16th Century) – usually based on surveys into the Kingdom’s current interests. Topics are usually set four years in advance, to provide time for people to research and prepare an entry.

Spring Crown:

• Feastware

• Footwork

• The Holy Roman Empire

November Coronation

• For Sleeping in, on or under

• Grown

• The Far East

Autumn Crown:

• Bags and Pouches

• Woolen

• 14th-century Italy

If anyone wants to enter any of these competitions, contact A&S officer me@blahblah.org as i will be arranging for entries to get to these competitions.

Current Shire competitions

Shire competitions run Easter to Easter.

The current competition to be presented at Easter Camp 2027 is "Try something new"

Maybe there is something you have always wanted to try or have put off doing. Here is your chance!
Present your work with a diary or journal of your journey into your new craft; show us your learning.
This competition will be decided by a populace vote, with the opportunity for feedback.

Mentors

If you need (or want) a mentor to guide you in your chosen craft, or just someone to bounce ideas with, contact me and I will try to put you in touch with a mentor. And if you are willing to be a mentor, email me and I will keep you on my list.