MILITARY COLLECTORS' CLUB of CANADA (MCCofC)
CONVENTION GUIDE
Section 6 - Exhibition Rules
By Martin Urquhart #3406
This document is revised from following: Revision: June 2005 (incorporating original edition, 6 September 1990, revision of January 1996, draft revision of July 1997, editions of July 1998, January 2002, and subsequent amendments)
SECTION 6 EXHIBITION RULES
"...what is key in society is surely the interpretation of a thing rather than the thing itself ...it is only through interpretation that things take on meaning, produce consent or rebellion, direct the course of event...the opinion surrounding and based on an interpretation gives rise to other interpretations and hence other events." (Tr) Arlette Farge, Des lieux pour l 'histoire, 1977, p. 30
6.1 OBJECTIVE
The broad objective of the Military Collectors Club of Canada and its program of honorary and competitive exhibits at annual conventions and other regional events is to encourage and promote the study of military history in general through the collection, preservation, conservation, and research of military and related artifacts of all kinds, and through public exhibition of the results of this work to exchange knowledge among members and by extension to educate both the interested and general public. Our mission, albeit on a modest and limited scale, is identical to that of great public institutions," to preserve the nation's memory and to pass on that precious legacy to the generations that follow." (Michael Swift, Treasures of the National Archives of Canada). The highest standards are sought in the historical quality and importance of artifacts themselves and also in the research and presentation of such artifacts. The competitive public exhibition of privately owned historical material is the principal means by which the Club encourages members to participate in this activity, and is a distinguishing characteristic of the MCC of C. Moreover, because of the breadth of the scope of this field and the depth of knowledge acquired by individual collectors within specific areas of expertise, this activity is both supplementary and complementary to the work of public institutional collectors.
6.2 CONVENTION COMPETITIVE EXHIBITION RULES
6.2.1 General Rules
6.2.1.1
All Members who enter a competitive exhibit at the annual convention agree to and are bound by the MCC of C Exhibition Rules.
6.2.1.2
The exhibitor(s) shall be a Member of the MCC of C in good standing (i.e., be a current member, having paid the subscription for the current year).
6.2.1.3
The exhibitor(s) must register as a Delegate for the convention and should declare the title> or subject of the exhibit at the time of registration.
6.2.1.4
Collective exhibits, entered by two or more persons in concert are permitted, providing all other criteria are met.
6.2.1.5
Material exhibited for competition must be the personal property of the exhibitor(s). Material belonging to institutional collections or assembled temporarily from various private or institutional collections will not be accepted for competitive exhibition.
6.2.1.6
Notwithstanding the above, non-competitive displays provided by institutional or private collections are welcome and encouraged to promote the educational objectives of the Club. Exhibits considered non-competitive are not judged and hence not eligible for award of prizes.
6.2.1.7
Displays which have previously earned a Gold or "Best" award at a national convention are ineligible for entry in subsequent competitions unless substantive changes have been made sufficient to effectively create a new exhibit. However, unmodified "retired" exhibits may be displayed non-competitively without restriction.
6.2.1.8
The exhibition of copies, specimens, replicas, reproductions, non-original or questionable material ina display must be labelled as such. Failure to do so will disqualify the exhibit from competition.
6.2.2
6.2.2.1
A Chief Judge may be appointed by the Convention Chairman. The Chief Judge desirably should have some previous judging experience so that he/she can provide guidance to the other judges. He/she need not be a Member of the Club. All decisions of the Chief Judge are final.
6.2.2.2
The Convention Chairman in consultation with the Convention Committee, shall appoint a panel of three Judges and shall provide them with a copy of these Convention Competitive Exhibition Rules.
6.2.2.3
It is highly desirable that the Chief Judge and Judges be individuals representing a wide base of knowledge across the spectrum of military artifacts, their research and display.
6.2.2.4
Neither the Chief Judge nor the Judges may be competitive exhibitors in the present convention.
6.2.3 Categories of Exhibits
There are no categories of exhibits. Each display shall be judged on its own merits in accordance with the Judging Standards as set out below.
6.2.4 Identification of Exhibits
6.2.4.1
No competitive exhibit may contain, include or display the name of the exhibitor until after the judging has been completed and prizes awarded.
6.2.4.2
Each competitive exhibit shall be assigned a unique identification number by which the exhibits will be known until after the judging has been completed and scores tallied. A copy of the list of competitive exhibits by number and title> shall be provided to the Chief Judge and Judges.
6.3 JUDGING
6.3.1 Judging Procedures
6.3.1.1
Judging will take place on the Friday of the convention after 10:00 hrs and shall be complete by13:00 hrs, to allow time to tally the results and determine prize winners before the convention banquet.
6.3.1.2
No changes may be made to any competitive exhibit after 1000 hrs. Friday and/or the first day of the Show.
6.3.1.3
The Convention Chairman shall furnish each Judge with a copy of the Exhibition Rules and sufficient standard judging forms as per Annex A.
6.3.1.4
Each Judge shall individually judge every exhibit in accordance with the criteria set out in the Judging Standards below and as replicated on the Standard Judging Form and shall assign a numerical rating under each criterion.
6.3.1.5
When all judging has been completed, the panel of Judges shall meet privately with the ConventionChairman and/or Chief Judge to tally the scores for each exhibit. The individual Judge's scores for each display shall be totaled to yield a cumulative score out of a highest possible score of 300.
6.3.1.6
Award of prizes of the three "Medal" grades together with the additional "Best" Medallions shall be awarded on the basis of the exhibits receiving the highest scores above the minimal limit as prescribed in the Award Standards.
6.3.2 Judging Criteria
6.3.2.1
Each exhibit is to be judged on its own merits against the general criteria outlined below. The criteria fall into two general categories of what might be called "historical" and "technical" merit. Judges may award points from 0 to the maximum points allotted for each criterion, leading to a highest possible score of 100. The criteria have been deliberately weighted to emphasize historical interest, research, preparation and educational value as compared to any intrinsic or monetary value of individual artifacts. The judging criteria are as follows:
a. title> - Statement of Purpose:
The exhibit should have a descriptive title> explaining what the overall display is about. (5 points).
b. Scope of Presentation and Label Text:
The display should "tell the story" of the artifact(s) shown. Labelling,where applicable, should include remarks noting:
(i) The importance, historical significance or educational value of the display: an explanation why the exhibit is worth looking at and its importance to the viewer; (15 points).
(ii) Description of the material exhibited, answering as many as possible of the basic questions, "Who, What, Why, When, Where?", and should reveal something of the amount and degree of difficulty of research; (20 points).
(iii) The special nature of the material displayed, either in and of itself or in terms of the special event or circumstances surrounding it, such as a unique history of an otherwise common artifact. (10 points).
(iv) Additional "technical" information, such as physical characteristics, symbolism, design and manufacturing data, etc.; (5 points).
c. Physical Presentation:
The overall exhibit should be attractive, interesting, and of the best quality. These criteria relate to physical appearance of the exhibit overall and its individual artifact components, including:
(i) The artful and visually pleasing arrangement of material within the exhibit; (5 points).
(ii) Demonstration of originality, imagination and innovation in presenting material is considered. (10 points).
(iii) Completeness and comprehensiveness of the overall exhibit in terms of its stated purpose above, including use of supporting material such as photographs, documents, and artifacts of a type different from the principal feature of the display. (15 points).
(iv) Labels should be complete, accurate, brief, tasteful, neat and legible. (5 points).
(v) Condition of both the overall display and the individual items within it, including supporting material, both of which should be of the highest standard. Evidence of the application of responsible conservation and preservation techniques is also considered. (10 points).
6.3.2.2
The presence of reproduction, copy, replica or counterfeit material not labelled as such within an exhibit will disqualify the exhibit from competition.
6.4 Awards and Standards
6.4.1 Awards
6.4.1.1 Medal Awards
Competitive exhibits may be awarded either a Gold, Silver or Bronze Medal, based on an exhibit's overall judges' score and where it falls within the Award Standards point ranges. Multiple awards of each medal may be available with the number awarded dictated by the number of exhibitors and their overall scores. Cash or other monetary awards shall not be provided.
6.4.1.2 "Best" Award Medallions
In addition to the Medal Awards, competitive exhibits may be awarded one of either the "Best of Show Medallion", the "Best Canadian Content Medallion" or the "Best of Theme Medallion. These awards are earned on the same basis of judgment as, and in addition to, the Medal Awards. They are presented to recognize specific merit in each case. In the case of tied scores, the awards will be determined by decision of the Convention Chairman and/or Chief Judge.
6.4.2 Standards
Because exhibits are judged on their own merits in accordance with the criteria outlined above, awards are earned only by those exhibits that attain a high standard of excellence. Similarly, awards are not earned by poor exhibits that may happen to be the best of a bad lot.
6.4.2.1 Medal Award Standards
Medal Award standards are as follows:
a. Gold Medal: a minimum of240/300 points [80% or more];
b. Silver Medal: a minimum of210/300 points [70% or more] and
c. Bronze Medal: a minimum of 180/300 points [60% or more].
6.4.2.2 "Best" Medallion Award Standards
Best Medallion Award standards are as follows
a. Best of Show
The Best of Show award is presented to the exhibit that attains the highest aggregate score among all exhibits and exemplifies the best in all areas of evaluation. Depending on the number and quality of exhibits, it may be awarded in addition to the Gold Medal award or as a second award to the top Gold award.
b. Best Canadian Content
The Best Canadian Content award is presented to the Gold, Silver or Bronze standard exhibit that is the highest scoring display of specifically Canadian material.
c. Best of Theme
The Best of Theme award is presented to the Gold, Silver or Bronze standard exhibit that best represents the theme of the particular convention at the discretion of the Convention Committee.
6.4.2.7 George A Brown Memorial Award
The additional Special award is the George A. Brown Memorial Award (formerly the President's Award). It is presented at the discretion of the President to the exhibit, usually of a novice exhibitor, beginner and /or younger collector that, while not attaining the high standard required of a regular award, nevertheless demonstrates effort and potential to achieve the objectives of the exhibition program in research and public display of artifacts that are not necessarily unusual, rare or of significant intrinsic value. This award is currently not awarded.
6.5 Supplementary Prizes and Awards
6.5.1
In addition to the formal prizes and awards, the Convention Committee may, at its discretion, provide souvenirs of participation for all exhibits, both competitive and non-competitive both to encourage participation in the exhibition program and to recognize and reward the effort of those whose exhibits did not achieve a prize.
6.5.2
From time to time, special awards, in addition to the standard Club awards for competitive exhibits, may be provided by individuals or institutions for general or specific purposes. In recent years, including 1996, four such awards have been provided through the generosity of Major (Ret) Dick Malott of the Organization of Military Museums of Canada (OMMC), and are referred to collectively as the Malott Prizes. These prizes are made available for award at the judges' discretion rather than for specific purposes. Because these prizes are in addition to the competitive exhibit program and series of awards, they may be presented to either competitive or non-competitive exhibits to recognize some particular merit. The Malott Prizes and suggested criteria are as follows:
a. OMMC Plaque: for meritorious educational exhibit;
b. Canadian War Museum Plaque: for meritorious research and documentation and has also been used to recognize the "best of theme" exhibit; and
c. Dick Malott Plaque: a "people's award " for most popular display, or appropriate to recognize a major non-competitive "guest" exhibit provided, for example, by a local museum.
The Dick Malott Awards are currently not awarded.
MCC of C COMPETITIVE EXHIBIT STANDARD JUDGING FORM
Exhibit
No.: ______ title>/Subject
_______________________________________________
|
Criteria |
Points
Available |
Points
Awarded |
|
|
5 |
|
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|
a.
The importance or educational value of the display: an explanation
of why the exhibit is worth looking at and its importance to the viewer. |
15 |
|
|
b.
Description of the material exhibited, answering as many as possible
of the questions, "who, what, where, why, when?", and
should reveal something of the amount and degree of difficulty of research. |
20 |
|
|
c.
The special nature of the material displayed, either in and of
itself or in terms of the special event or circumstances
surrounding it, such as a unique history of a common artifact. |
10 |
|
|
d.
Additional “technical" information, such as physical
characteristics, symbolism, design, manufacturing data, etc. |
5 |
|
|
|
||
|
a. The artful and visually pleasing arrangement of material within the exhibit. |
5 |
|
|
b.
Demonstration of originality, imagination and innovation in
presenting the material and information. |
10 |
|
|
c.
Completeness and comprehensiveness of the overall exhibit in terms
of its stated purpose (I. above); including the use of supporting
material such as photos, documents, other types of artifacts, etc. |
15 |
|
|
d.
Form of labels: complete, accurate, brief, tasteful, neat and readable. |
5 |
|
|
e.
Condition: both the overall exhibit and the individual items within
it, including any supporting material, both of which should be of the
highest reasonable standard; consideration for evidence of the
application of responsible conservation and preservation techniques. |
10 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
Remarks:
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Judge (signature): ___________________________________
MCC of C COMPETITIVE EXHIBIT TALLY SHEET
(Exhibition Chairman / Chief Judge only until results are announced)
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Exhibit
No. |
title> |
Exhibitor |
Scores
Judge
1 Judge 2 Judge 3 |
Total
Score |
Prize
Awarded |
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2 |
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4 |
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5 |
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6 |
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8 |
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9 |
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10 |
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11 |
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15 |
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16 |
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Exhibition Chairman & Chief Judge (signature): ______________________________________