User:CharlieHuang/Order of the Literati

The Order of the Literati is a learned society and non-profit organization founded by Charlie Huang for artists and especially musicians from an amateur and/or professional amateur background. The society assumes no formal qualifications in the arts from individuals or groups, but only that they can demonstrate a proficiency in arts and/or music.

History
Founded in 2006, the society aims to promote music and art that has often been neglected in the mainstream. These include music and arts from other cultures other than the Western tradition, or Western art and music that has been developed in an unconventional form.

Events
The main activities of the society include yajis, concerts, conferences, etc.

Fellowships
There are several levels of membership one can gain in the society, which will depend on their background in the arts. Normally, to be able to be elected to the main level of membership, one must not have a professional background or have had formal training in the arts. Those with professional backgrounds and/or formal training are generally confined to the lower level of membership, or could be elected into the higher level through honorary elective. Main members could in fact become professionals and keep their fellowship.

The levels of membership are as follows: Commoner, Member, Associate, Fellow, Honorary Fellow, Litterateur, Gentleman.

Commoner
Commoners are basically non-members of the society. They could be anyone from any background. They subscribe to the mailing lists and probably attend a few of the society events casually. They are often visiting artists or musicians (called "Litterateur Commoners") who have no responsiblities in the society.

Commoners do not need to apply for membership, they just need to turn up at events and place their names on the list of attendees.

Member
Members are the basic membership of the society. Members can be from any background, but they must have a clear interest in society activities and must pay a registration fee to entry the society. Members are not elected and membership can be accepted without further question. Generally, those who are professionals with formal training in the arts cannot apply to be anything higher than this level.

Associate
Associates require that they have a proficiency in an art or in music. They must be non-professionals with no formal qualifications. The critera is as follows:
 * Must not be a professional; that is, their art is not the main means of making their living
 * Must not hold formal or academic qualifications in the arts; i.e. Bachelor's, Master's or Doctorate degree in which their main course of study was art related, e.g. BA in Music, BMus and MMus degrees, etc.

Fellow
Fellows are full members of the society. They are basically, associates who have achieved professionalism or an academic degree whilst they were members. Associates can also become fellows if they have made a good enough contribution to the arts, the society or have increased their skills significantly to a high standard. Those who are not members of the society who wish to gain membership but are already professionals cannot become an Associate or Fellow. However, they can become Honorary Fellows at the discretion of the Order if they contribute significantly to the society.

Litterateur
Litterateurs are basically winners of the Litterateur of Music and Arts Award.

Gentleman
Gentlemen are the highest level in the society. They are mainly the running force of the society and deal with the organisation of events, etc. Gentlemen are elected and are often the top amateurs in the arts.

The Litterateur of Music and Arts Award
The Litterature of Music and Arts award is an award for contributions to arts and music in general. the critera for the candidate is similar to those of fellowships, but the level of artistic ability must be higher. Those who gain this award are members of the society for life.

Decorum
Like some institutions, the society adheres to a strict dress code. The clothing worn is mainly based on academic dress as well as fusions from other backgrounds.

Commoners do not have to wear any special dress of the Order. They simply wear formal wear, but generally, it is not sub fusc (evening wear with white tie).

Members must wear sub fusc. On top of that, a black short gown with no sleeves, but from the shoulders are streamers.

Associates wear sub fusc with a scarlet gimp gown with closed sleeves with inverted 'T' opening at the elbows. They also wear of hood of the Dean Burgon shape. A bonnet is worn.

Fellows wear sub fusc with a lilac gimp gown with closed sleeves and a hood in the Clow Reed shape is worn. They also can wear a festal gown of scarlet on top of their gimp gown. A bonnet is worn. Honorary Fellows do not wear the gimp gown.

Litterateur wear sub fusc with a yellow golden festal gown (no gimp gown) with a black hood in the Wild Goose shape. They can wear a beadless Chinese Emperor crown.

Gentlemen wear sub fusc with a creamy raw silk gimp gown with closed sleeves and a black hood in the Wild Goose shape. Over that, a festal gown of crimson with golden yellow facings and bell shaped sleeves, together with a Convocation habit of old gold coloured gauze-like material. A beadless Chinese Emperor crown is worn by the President, a bonnet for the Vice-president, and a trencher cap for the Secetary.