Standard Division System

Statement of Principles

The Standard Division System’s goal is to promote equity, meaning a beginner must have as good a chance as a more experienced person to gain recognition. Thus, this system is based on the experience as well as the talents of all Masquerade contestants.

One may sign up to a higher division than what the rules assign them to by default if they are confident that their experience surpasses that of their division.

• Example: someone who has made more than a dozen costumes so far, but who has never participated in a masquerade, may decide to sign up in a higher division than Novice if they feel the gap between the competition’s general level and their own is too wide.
• Please note: if the person wins an award within that division, they will have to sign up to that same division from then on.

The Director of the Masquerade may also assign someone to a higher division than the one normally attributed by the rules.

• Example: a participant who has never participated in a masquerade before signs up in Novice. The excellence of their work is such that it surpasses the competition level in the Novice category and creates inequity within the division. The Director of the Masquerade may then decide to assign them to a higher-level division, depending on the costume’s strength.

Description of the Various Divisions

The standard division system, in accordance with the International Costumers’ Guild’s guidelines, will be applied as follows:

Junior Division

For any contestant under 13 years of age at the time of the convention.

It is divided into two subdivisions:                                            

• Made by the Contestant under 13 Years
  The costume was largely or wholly constructed by the contestant.
• Made by Another Party
  The costume was largely or wholly constructed by someone who is not the contestant under 13 years of age.

Novice Division               

For contestants who have not won a major award at a masquerade, other than as a Junior customer. A contestant who has won numerous awards, especially a “Best in Category” award, in the Novice division is encouraged to enter the Journeyperson division.

Journeyperson Division                                                                           

For contestants who have won three (3) awards in the Novice Division at masquerades, or who wish to enter this division because they do not belong in a higher one.

Artisan Division

For contestants who have won three (3) awards in the Journeyperson Division at masquerades, or who wish to enter this division because they do not belong in a higher one.

Master Division

For contestants who have won three (3) awards in the Artisan Division, or who have won an award in the Master Division of a nationally or internationally recognized masquerade.

Any contestant who wishes to participate in this category may do so, as long as the costume was not made for business purposes.

Out-of-Competition Division

The masquerade is an amateur competition.

Purchased or rented costumes, as well as those made for business purposes, may not be entered into divisions for awards but may be shown on stage in the Out-Of-Competition Division.

Professional customers (individuals who derive more than 50% of their income from making costumes) can sign up in the Out-of-Competition Division.

Anyone who wants to sign up in this Division may do so.

Please note, however, that available slots in the Out-of-Competition Division are at the Director of the Masquerade’s discretion, depending on registration in other divisions.