"Arts & Sciences" refers broadly to all arts and sciences practised in the Medieval and Renaissance periods, and in the SCA generally excludes combat/martial arts. The term is commonly abbreviated "A&S", though when speaking or writing formally, or when speaking to a non-SCA audience, this abbreviation is best avoided.
A distinction commonly given between "arts" and "sciences" is that an "art" is an activity where the practitioner creates unique items, and a "science" is an activity where a series of very similar products is produced. For example, pewter casting is commonly defined as a science, whereas carving molds for pewter casting is an art. This distinction is a blurry one at best, however. Cooking, for example has elements of both art and science.
The Arts & Sciences office is responsible for facilitating the education of people both within and outside the SCA in the arts and sciences of the Medieval and Renaissance periods.
Arts & Sciences Include
The practice and display of SCA-period Arts and Sciences is nearly as diverse as the populace. Below is an incomplete list of Arts and Sciences practiced in Caid:
- Bardic Arts (vocal and instrumental music, poetry, storytelling, etc.)
- Brewing (alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages)
- Costuming (sewing, tailoring, haberdashery, cobbling, etc.)
- Culinary Arts (cooking, feast preparation, recipe redaction, etc.)
- Dance (research, teaching, performing court, country and ethnic dances)
- Fiber Arts (spinning, weaving, embroidery, dyeing, rope-making, etc.)
- Heraldic Art (flags and banners, armoring, garb, etc.)
- Metal Arts (armoring, weapon-making, casting, blacksmithing, etc.)
- Research (studies about all aspects of SCA-period life)
- Scribal Arts (calligraphy, illumination, bookbinding, etc.)
- Wood Arts (furniture-making, carving, pyrography, etc.)
