On Challenges
A challenge is a friendly way for someone to get feedback on their embellishment work and move up through the guild ranks.
A challenge is not a competition with others, but with oneself. Feedback comes from evaluators. These are guild members or other SCA members who have demonstrated a relevant level of competency or experience in that form of embellishment.
Challenges allow us to inspire each other, no matter what level of expertise you have!
Challenges may be held at in-person events from Kingdom level to local, as well as online.
As you participate in challenges with various embellishment techniques, you will earn ranks and achieve proficiency levels within the guild structure. Members may show their rank by wearing the guild badge decorated in their rank color.
How to Participate in Challenges
Pre-registration for challenges is encouraged. Challenges are announced and publicized through an SCA-accepted medium at least two, and ideally four, weeks before being held. This allows time to engage evaluators. There are usually two or three evaluators, who meet Guild requirements.
Challenges take, on average, 15 minutes or less per piece.
In addition to the embellished item itself, documentation may required for particular ranks.
Documentation
Evaluators gauge a challenger’s knowledge level of their piece through documentation. (See Ranks and Proficiency Levels.)
I. Oral A. The challenger must be able to quote examples of when and where the form was found. B. The challenger should be able explain the parameters of the form in period, including materials (e.g. types of fabric, thread, wood, metal, etc), tools, and methods of construction. C. The challenger must be able to effectively defend any differences or changes made from the original methods of working (i.e. “I used a modern foil-wrapped thread instead of real gold thread due to the current availability of the latter”).
II. Written A. The challenger must have used a a minimum of two (2) different primary sources for each aspect of the form. These sources should be ‘primary’ in that they are actual extant examples of the form from period. B. The challenger must be able to prove the authenticity of style, concept, execution, and materials of the form. C. The challenger must be able to effectively defend any differences or changes made from the original methods of working (i.e. “I used a modern foil-wrapped thread instead of real gold thread due to the current availability of the latter”).
Evaluation
Evaluators gauge a challenger’s proficiency according to guidelines:
- Basic – beginner; has learned a skill well enough to attempt reproducing it;
- Competent – has completed a project using the skills or techniques in a manner that makes the item usable and aesthetically accurate;
- Skilled – has completed a project using the skills or techniques with few mistakes, and has demonstrated knowledge of the history and period usage of the techniques;
- Expert – has completed a project using as close to accurate period skills, materials, and techniques as feasible with few or no noticeable mistakes. Challenger should be able to demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the history and period usage of the technique.
See the chart: Ranks and Proficiency Levels.
Teaching
Challengers for the rank of Journeyman and higher are required to teach classes, or equivalents, according to their rank.
Classes must be on those forms of embellishment accepted by the Guild; challengers must teach at least one new form at each rank; other credits for that rank can be earned for new classes in forms previously taught. Proof is provided through one of: class handout; class roster with signatures of attendees; verification from SCA learning colleges; or signed acknowledgment by Event Steward, Guild Officer, etc. that the class took place. See the chart: Ranks and Proficiency Levels).
Mentoring and teaching in informal context is also acceptable. Proof of mentoring and teaching includes: signed acknowledgment from the student that identifies the mentor/teacher and the form taught; record(s) of challenge(s) in the Guild successfully made by the student guild member.
Please note, the form of embellishment taught via mentoring (one-on-one teaching) must be a form in which the teacher has attained an equal or higher knowledge level than the student.
Exceptions, Variances, Prior Guild Rankings, Etc.
All challenge results, classes taught and other elements necessary for attaining rank in the Guild achieved prior to the date of issuance of the original form of this document (21 Aug 2017) are valid as long as: I. Form challenges: the guild has records of those challenge results or adequate substitutes for such records exist II. Classes taught: the classes taught and circumstances of teaching meet the requirements ordained by the Guild at that time those classes were taught or sufficient evidence of meeting the new requirements as outlined above can be obtained.
Variances to the above guidelines may be granted by the Guild Minister in consultation with Guild Officers. For example, under certain conditions a written paper on an embellishment form may be acceptable in lieu of teaching or mentoring, or a class taught many years ago, but remembered by several students, may be acceptable to satisfy a rank requirement.
Personal Record Keeping
Please see the updated chart for tracking and planning your progress through the ranks of the Guild. See the Documents section of The Embellishers’ Guild of An Tir
Arranging for Challenges
If you would like to challenge a rank level, please contact the Guild Challenge Deputy, your Regional Challenge Deputy, or the Guild Minister to make arrangements. If you would like to see Embellishers’ Guild Challenges held at an event, please contact us!
Email the Guild: embellishers.guild@antir.org.
