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Welcome to the 2008 Abbey
Medieval Festival. We will still be using the College
grounds again as the prolonged wet weather and other issues
have delayed moving to a new site.
As the Medieval Festival period covers a thousand years -
from AD 600 to 1600 - it allows a variety of re-enactment
arts and crafts. You need to make a general historical
reference to this time period on the APPLICATION FORM.
Please make sure you have read the GUIDELINES FOR
PARTICIPANTS and maintain the standards and costume required
for the period you are representing (See COSTUMING
STANDARDS). Look at The Medieval Stallholders Assistant
webpage http://www.abbeystalls.com if you need ideas or
guidance on costuming and requirements.
Merchants and stallholders selling or demonstrating their
fascinating wares in the Market form one of the most
important elements of the Abbey Medieval Tournament. More
than 100 merchants take part, selling food, arts, crafts and
weapons. With some 14,000 visitors in 2007, we welcome new
merchants and craftspersons that wish to attend, so long as
they meet the standards required.
Wearing appropriate costumes to your time period is a
requirement. Merchants who do not conform will not be
invited back.
Our aim is to provide an authentic medieval marketplace.
This means the Abbey Museum sets high standards on its
merchants and craftspersons or artisans. We are constantly
upgrading to keep our reputation as Australias most
authentic event.
Merchants or craftspersons selling or demonstrating wares
that were part of the artistic heritage of the Middle Ages
fit right into the medieval scene.
These included:
calligraphy
illumination
book binding
leatherwork
jewellery
metalwork and blacksmithing
armour and weapons
enamel work
carving in wood, bone, antler and ivory
mosaics
pottery
glasswork
stained glass
painting in fresco, tempera and oils
stonework
embroidery and other textile arts
spinning, weaving and dying
tablet weaving
braid making
cooking
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Photo: Paul Garcia
Especially welcome are purveyors of crafts that are
specifically medieval, such as pilgrim badge makers, potters
making authentic medieval pottery, costumers in the style of
the period, armourers, and so on.
The Abbey Medieval Festival Committee reserves the right to
discourage an uneven number of merchants, craftspersons or
food vendors demonstrating the same craft or art.
Demonstrators of crafts need to use materials of the period;
for instance, card-weaving displays should have cards of
appropriate materials, such as leather, bone or wood. Modern
playing cards used in tablet weaving displays are not in
keeping with our medieval theme and are not acceptable.
We accept that some crafts may need to use some modern tools
and materials; however, these should be kept to a minimum
and if possible out of sight of the public. Blatantly modern
items are not in keeping with our medieval theme and should
be hidden or eliminated.
Please note, if it is your intention to sell your wares, you
will also need to apply for a Merchant's Licence.
The Abbey Medieval Festival Committee provides more detailed
guidelines for vendors wishing to become traders at the
Festival and Tournament on request. If you have previously
attended this event you will be familiar with the standards
we expect. However, each year we ask traders to work a
little harder to become an authentic participant.
Please be patient with us. Once we have finalised our
new site we will work with you to make your market more
exciting and authentic.
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