Southron Gaard has a long and excellent tradition of Arts and Sciences Challenges; we're world famous in the Crescent Isles and throughout the known world for our challenges.
Previous challenges issued by the Ladies of Hous Amberherthe, such as the Baronial Heraldic Challege, the Second Baronial Heraldic Challenge, the Persona Gubbins Challenge, and the Event Embellishment, Elaboration, and Edification Arts & Sciences Challenge, are all detailed or linked below. Keep scrolling to see what you are looking for.
UFO Challenge
Our theme for this Challenge is to finish some of those projects that have been sitting in the naughty corner, or hiding in your stash, haunting and taunting you. We were much inspired by our discussions with you at Faire: you asked for it, and here it is!
This Challenge is brought to you by The Ladies of Amberherthe (Baroness Christian Baier, Baronessa Isabel María del Aguila, and Baroness Joana de Bairros); with the gracious support of Their Excellencies, Angus and Joana, Baron and Baroness of Southron Gaard, and the Southron Gaard Arts and Sciences Officer, The Honourable Lady Amabilia Thexton, and the Southron Gaard Baronial Council.
What is an Arts & Sciences Challenge?
Challenges are not competitions; a challenge is intended to be fun, no pressure. The only person you are challenging is yourself; challenging yourself to set aside time to make and craft, and to follow your passions. And once completed, we can share the wonders with the Barony.
What is a UFO?
A UFO in SCA and crafting terms is an UnFinished Object: a project conceived or started but not yet completed or stalled out for some reason.
What to Enter:
You may enter the challenge by making or doing one (or more) items which fit any of the categories below.
Entries can be as tiny or as grand as you choose, and may include “small”, “medium”, “large”, and “gosh, look at the size of that thing” projects.
Items can be completed, or progressed further during the challenge.
Entries must be either: - Started, but have been on hold or not been worked on, since before CF 2025, or - Most or all of the materials and tools have been acquired prior to CF 2025, but the project is still not yet started, or - A project from any previous challenge which had not been completed in that challenge.
All items should be related to, or for use in, the SCA. - Items may be for you, or another SCA person, or for an SCA group (e.g. for the Barony). - Entries can be made by individuals or groups, young or old, by Southron Gaard citizens or by any citizens of another group who would like to join the fun. - The projects must be re-started at or after Baronial Anniversary 2025, and completed by Baronial Anniversary 2026 (that’s one whole year!).
How to Enter:
Submit the following information to aandschallenge@sg.sca.org.nz
1) a photograph of the item
2) the category (or categories) that best fit the entry
3) a few brief notes about the entry: what the item is + any information you would like to share about the item, its historical context, and its making, + any information you would like to share about the item's (or your) journey from start to UFO to further along the UFO journey / to completion
Your Recognition:
As with previous Arts & Sciences Challenges in Southron Gaard, all entrants will be awarded a special token at the completion of the challenge.
UFO Challenge Categories:
Why didn’t I just finish this? - Least amount of work required to complete the project / closest to completion
Old enough to drive, vote, or retire... - Project that has spent the longest time to complete
Finally, knocked the bastard off! - Most longed for project / most relief on completion
UFO : UFO - Subtle inclusion of UFO (unidentified flying object) theme; otherwise an SCA / historically appropriate item
Bored now! - Project downsized for completion
The ship has sailed.. - Finished but rendered redundant by time
I just couldn’t wait! - Project that has been used unfinished, which has finally been finished
Sorry its taken so long… - Gift that’s been constantly nagging your guilty conscience
U-turn! - Started life intending to be on thing, finished as another
Event Embellishment, Elaboration, and Edification Challenge
"Practising our Arts and our Sciences for use at Events."
We were much inspired by our own post-Faire to-do list, but more especially by the enthusiasm and excitement of many newcomers as they thought upon what they had beheld and experienced at Faire this year, and planned for next year.
The EEEE A&S Challenge can be read on the Southron Gaard A&S Blog, including an explanation of each category.
The blog will also let you explore the range of entries from the populace of the Barony of Southron Gaard. A collage of some entries that was shared upon completion of the challenge is included below:
Persona Gubbins Challenge
"The object of art is to give life a shape."
We know that sometimes people find it hard to 'use' their persona at events, or to make their persona relevant to their SCA 'game play'. In this challenge we invited you to use your persona (or someone else's) to investigate that persona’s world, in order to create small items that you might carry to or use at events to enhance our SCA 'game'.
The original challenge can be read on the old Southron Gaard A&S Blog with the Covid extension here.
There were many inspiring creations shared, which can be explored on the Southron Gaard A&S Blog, which showcases all of the entries received. A selection of pictures from challenge entries is shared below:
Second Baronial Heraldic Challenge
"Now able to recognise combatants on the field, and recognise which nobles are in attendance, ..."
Baroness Isabel Maria and Baron Oswyn launched a follow up to their inaugural Heraldic Challenge in August of 2014, to encourage the use of heraldry in additional areas, particularly off the tourney field.
The original challenge can be seen on page 8 of the August 2014 issue of FTT, with the results shared on pages 5 in the April 2015 issue.
Baronial Heraldic Challenge
"We wish to encourage ... displaying personal heraldry."
In March 2013, Baron Oswyn and Baroness Isabel Maria announced the first Baronial Heraldic Challenge, saying "we enjoin the populace to make items of heraldry, which we hope to view at a Pas d’Armes no earlier than late August. They will be assessed in terms of creativity, period-appropriate imagery, execution and construction (and how envious Her Excellency is of your wondrous items)."
The original challenge can be seen on page 11 of the March 2013 issue of FTT, with the results shared on pages 7 and 8 in the March 2014 issue.
We hope you enjoy your visit with us.