2026 A&S Faire and Queen’s Prize Tourney

 This year’s event will be held in the Shire of Abhainc Ciach Ghlais on Sunday, May 24! For more information, visit the event page on the Æthelmearc Website.

 

Event Details

  Arts and Sciences Faire and Queen’s Prize Tourney (A&S Faire) is held once a year, typically early in the spring reign (opposite Kingdom Arts & Sciences Championships, which is hosted in the Fall). If you would like to propose a bid to host A&S Faire, consult the Kingdom A&S handbook for venue requirements.

A&S Faire has two components: an A&S display for anyone to share their amazing work with our populace, and the Queen’s Prize Tourney, where entrants are offered an opportunity to meet face-to-face with a panel of advisors.

The intent of the Queen’s Prize Tourney is to provide a platform for anybody to receive constructive feedback on their work in a friendly and non-competitive environment and to stimulate enthusiasm and motivation within our A&S community by sharing our art. The Queen’s Prize Tourney is an excellent opportunity for up-and-coming artisans to show their work and be interviewed by more experienced experts, as well as an opportunity for more experienced artisans to gain meaningful feedback about their projects. To show her appreciation to the artisans entering the tourney, Her Royal Majesty will honor her favorite entry with the Queen’s Prize; therefore, this event is always a Royal Progress.

a table showcasing a scribal display with framed scrolls and paint materials.
a scribal display at A&S Faire

A&S Display

  A&S Faire is a gathering of art and culture. Anyone may display, craft, and mingle with other artisans.

Queen’s Prize Tourney

 The Queen’s Prize Tourney (QPT) is a display of works by artisans who have attained a Grant Level Arts & Sciences award or lower. In other words, anyone but Laurels may enter the QPT. Unlike most tournaments, however, there is no competition, and everyone wins a prize.

 The QPT is a day of displays and advising. Each entrant will have a display of their work, and each will be visited by one or two teams of advisors for one hour each during the day. This face-to-face advising is designed to give the entrant the opportunity to discuss their work with advisors who are Fleurs and/or Laurels. The QPT displays will also be open to the general public during the day.

  It’s a great opportunity to see what the up-and-coming artisans of Æthelmearc are doing. 

Entrants

  • The Queen’s Prize Tourney and Faire is a non-competitive evaluation sponsored by the Kingdom of Æthelmearc. There are no scores, but participants can request to be graded with the Kingdom Rubrics.
  • Entrants must be sponsored and can be mentored by a companion to the Order of the Fleur d’Æthelmearc (or equivalent) or the Order of the Laurel. If you do not have a Sponsor, one will be found for you.
  • Each entrant is entitled one entry. That project need not be complete or “successful”.
  • Documentation is required, although verbal documentation is acceptable; do bring paper copies of your bibliography and reference materials.
  • Evaluation will be conducted in a face-to-face manner using Kingdom evaluation criteria.
  • By entering the QPT, participants consent to receive feedback, and all evaluations will be recorded and kept on file by the A&S Ministry for quality assurance.

Sponsors

  • Sponsors must be a companion to the Order of the Fleur d’Æthelmearc (or equivalent) or the Order of the Laurel.
  • Sponsors may sponsor a maximum of five entrants.
  • Sponsors must bring one prize per each entrant sponsored. This prize will be handed to the entrant by the sponsor during Court.
  • Sponsors are encouraged to work with entrants on the development of their entries prior to the event.
  • Sponsors cannot advise their entrants.