Woodturning CONNECT 2027, Biennial Competitions
Carpenters’ Hall, 1 Throgmorton Avenue, LONDON EC2N 2JJ
Judging on Tuesday 19 October. Public viewing Wednesday 20 to Thursday 21 October.
General Conditions of Entry 2027
Every two years The Worshipful Company of Turners organises turning competitions which attract entries from turners of all ages and skill. There should be a competition for you, whatever your interest or proficiency.
Here are the categories.
A. The Worshipful Company of Turners’ competitions
• The Master’s competition – the theme for 2027 is ‘Light out of Darkness’
• Open Competition (Felix Levy Trophy) – A hand-turning competition open to all (ornamental and rose engine turning excluded), no restriction as to subject, size or style.
• Members Competition (Bert Marsh Plate) – A hand-turning competition open to all members of the WCT who are amateur turners, no restriction as to subject, size or style.
• Certificate Competition (Nic Somers Bowl) – A hand-turning competition, open to all those awarded the Company Certificate in Turning, no restrictions as to subject, size or style.
• Yeomen’s Competition (Julian Scott Trophy) – The theme from ‘the Art & Mysterie’ of the Turners’ craft – to modern futures’. No restrictions as to subject, size or style.
B. Competitions organised in conjunction with the Association of Woodturners of Great Britain. Open to members of the AWGB.
• Senior
• Junior (competition for those under 21)
C. Competitions organised in conjunction with the Society of Ornamental Turners. Open to members of the SOT.
• Ornamental Turning (Lady Gertrude Crawford Trophy) – for conventional ornamental turning.
• Rose Turning (Fred Howe Trophy) – for rose turning or a combination of ornamental and rose turning.
• SOT Plain Turning (H E Twentyman Trophy) – predominantly plain turning, but with a discrete element of ornamental turning.
D. Competition organised in conjunction with Association of Pole Lathe Turners and Greenwood Workers. Open to members of the APTGW.
• One competition, to produce a piece on a pole lathe (held at the Bodgers Ball in May and displayed at CONNECT 27)
THE FOLLOWING DETAILS ARE COMMON TO ALL THE COMPETITIONS
HOW TO ENTER
Choose the competition you want to enter, read through the detailed page on the website relevant to that competition, and complete the online entry form attached to that page.
Please do this as early as you can as it helps with the administration – don’t wait till you deliver the piece. Entry forms received after Monday 27th September will not be accepted into the Competitions.
HOW TO GET YOUR ENTRY TO THE VENUE
• Deliver by mail, courier or in person to the Turners’ Company office (FAO Rebecca Temple, Turners Company, Saddlers’ House, 44 Gutter Lane, London EC2V 6BR, before 17.00 on Monday 11 October 2027
• Deliver in person to Carpenters’ Hall, 1 Throgmorton Ave, London EC2N 2JJ between 9.00 and 12 noon on Tuesday 19th October 2027. Any entries received after this time on Monday will not be able to be judged in the competitions.
Entries should be in a robust box addressed to the Company (Saddlers’ House address), with your name and address, and the word “EXHIBITION” or “COMPETITION” on the outside. Each piece to be accompanied by a note saying which category it’s entered for, and a photo of the piece. We’ll match the pieces with your earlier entry form and put all this information on a card by your piece after the competitions have been judged. Sign and date each entry on the base. We’ll put a sticky label on top of it so the judges can’t see your name. Any questions, please contact Becca Temple in the Turners’ Company office:
020 7236 3605, assistantclerk@turnersco.com
The above information does not apply to the Pole lathe competition which is held at the Bodgers Ball in May 2027, though entries will be displayed at Carpetners’ Hall throughout Woodturning CONNECT 27. See the sheet for the Pole Lathe competition.
JUDGING
The Judges’ decision shall be final and binding on all competitors. No prizes will be awarded if the best entries are considered by the judges to be of insufficiently high standard.
PRIZE-GIVING
Prize giving will be at Carpenters’ Hall at 2.00 pm on Thursday 21 October.
SELLING
If you want to offer your piece(s) for sale, state the price on the entry form and/or add it to the information when you submit the piece. The Company will manage a sales point and will remit the proceeds to you, less 25% commission which includes any credit card fee. As a general rule, all items should remain on the competition tables until 2.00 pm on Thursday 21 October. If there are costs for the Company in delivering the piece to the purchaser they will normally be met by the exhibitor / competitor as a further deduction from the sale price.
DATA PROTECTION
By entering this competition, you agree to the Company retaining your details for the purpose contacting you with regards to related events and activities. We will not share your data with any third party for their marketing or fundraising purposes. We will keep your data safe and secure. You can request that we remove your details from our database at any time.
PHOTOGRAPHS
A condition of entry is that you grant the Company or its agents the right to photograph the entry/entries, the copyright of which shall belong to the Company, and to use the images to promote the craft of turning.
RETURN OF ITEMS
Pieces can be collected from Carpenters’ Hall after 3.00 pm on Thursday 21 October. If they’re still there by 6pm they will be taken to the Company office and we’ll contact you to arrange the return of your item(s). This doesn’t of course apply to pieces that have been sold.
PHYSICAL SECURITY
The Carpenters’ Company is responsible for the overall security of the Hall. But competitors should be aware that the exhibition is open to any member of the public and neither the Turners’ Company nor Carpenters’ Company can be held responsible in the unlikely event of a theft taking place.
PUBLIC OPENING TIMES
The Hall will be open to the public on Wednesday 20 October from 1000 to 1600, Thursday 21 October from 1000 to 1400. Tickets will be available through Eventbrite and on the door. It’s not essential to book, but it would be really helpful if visitors could register through Eventbrite. This will allow us to anticipate the flow of people.
CATERING
There is paying tea and coffee bar in Carpenters’ Hall and some seating will be made available.
MARKETING THE EVENT
The Turners’ Company will be marketing the event, but please help us by broadcasting it as widely as possible so that we have lots of entries and lots of visitors.
CONTACT
Please refer any query in the first instance to Becca Temple in the Turners’ Company office 020 7236 3605 assistantclerk@turnersco.com
KEY DATES AND TIMES
Tuesday 19 October – Set Up, Judging and Evening Reception.
Wednesday 20 October – Public Open Day
Thursday 21 October – Public Open Morning and Prize Giving
Other key dates specific to the competitions:
Monday 27th September – final date for competition entry forms
Monday 11th October – final date for delivering pieces to the Saddlers office (by courier or in person)
Tuesday 19th October – pieces can be delivered to Carpenters’ Hall between 9am and 12 noon