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Award Categories SVA information page
Works Adapting Poe
Any artistic work that presents the historical facts of Poe’s life and likeness, or faithful adaptation or performance of Poe’s writing. Examples might include: a stage, film or recorded audio performance of Poe’s prose or poetry; musicals or compositions; portraiture or other artistic rendering of Poe’s likeness. Non-period or modern-day adaptations may qualify in this category provided the entry is clearly presented as a directly representative of Poe’s life or works. Historical biography also qualifies in this category due to the narrative nature of such works. Please note the Saturday Visiter Awards are focused primarily on artistic rather than academic works; critical or academic treatises do not qualify for entry.
Original Works Inspired by Poe
Any original work that draws direct inspiration from Poe’s life or writing. Examples might include Poe or an historical person significant to Poe’s life as character in film, novel or play; use of some element of Poe’s written works (setting, character, plot) for sequel, prequel or basis for original story. In every case the entrant must clearly state and illustrate how Poe inspired the work. A dramatic telling or narrative of Poe’s life that purposely changes the historical facts for storytelling purposes might also qualify for this category.
Acclaim (Pop-culture Recognition)
Any work that reflects Edgar Allan Poe’s continued presence and influence in popular culture through wide public visibility or cultural impact. Examples might include film, television, digital media, games, performances, or other creative works that reference, adapt, or reinterpret Poe’s life or writing for contemporary audiences. This is the only category in which members of the public may nominate a work, with no submission fee. Judges curate the final slate of nominees, and the public determines the recipient through open voting. Acclaim is a non-competitive recognition and is not judged alongside the submission-based awards categories.
Regional Honor
Historical Poe sites in Baltimore, Bronx and Richmond may select an entry to highlight as their “Poe Places” SVA Regional Honor. The purpose is to recognize an artist or work within the Poe site's city or region. Honorees will be announced with the nominees list and presented by a representative from that location. This pick is not an SVA contender unless it has been selected one of the slate of official nominees. Regional Highlight honorees will receive an invitation to the SVA awards ceremony.
Young Saturday Visiter Award
***New! The Young SVA Category will open to Maryland High School Students on September 1. See new guidelines & eligibility.***
Sponsored and presented by the Baltimore National Heritage Area, explorebaltimore.org
2026 SVA Guest of Honor
Zenos Frudakis
Zenos Frudakis is an American sculptor renowned for his expressive figurative works and compelling public monuments. Born in 1951 in San Francisco, California, he developed a passion for art early in life and went on to study at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and the University of Pennsylvania. Frudakis is best known for sculptures that explore human emotion, movement, and transformation, often blending classical technique with contemporary themes.
His most celebrated work, Freedom, located in Philadelphia, depicts a figure breaking free from a wall—symbolizing the struggle for individuality and liberation. Throughout his career, Frudakis has created over 150 monumental works and numerous public commissions, including portraits of historical figures, athletes, and cultural icons. His subjects include, among many others, Benjamin Franklin, Martin Luther King Jr., Muhammad Ali, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Nina Simone.
His sculptures can be found throughout the United States and internationally, with installations in Japan, Greece, England, Ireland, Bermuda, South Africa, and Australia. Frudakis’ work is distinguished by its technical mastery and emotional intensity, capturing both physical likeness and psychological depth. He continues to be an influential figure in contemporary sculpture.
This appearance marks a special moment for Poe Baltimore, as Frudakis will present a newly created bronze bust of Edgar Allan Poe as a gift to the museum. The work is intended to help raise awareness for the museum’s planned expansion and, in time, will hold a place of honor within the new museum,connecting one of America’s most celebrated sculptors with one of its most enduring literary figures.
Zenos Frudakis, Monumental Sculptor
2026 SVA Judges Panel
Chris Semtner
The Curator of the Edgar Allan Poe Museum in Richmond, Virginia, Chris Semtner is an internationally exhibited fine artist whose paintings have entered numerous public collections including the Virginia Historical Society and the University of Maryland. Semtner has written several books and chapters on topics including Poe, visual art, and cryptography in addition to contributing articles to Biography.com, Resources for American Literary Studies, Crime Writers’ Chronicle, and The Edgar Allan Poe Review. He has curated critically acclaimed exhibits for museums and galleries across the country with his Library of Virginia exhibit Poe: Man, Myth, or Monster earning the praise of The New York Times. His exhibits for the Poe Museum brought that institution awards and honors from TIME Magazine, USA Today, and several others.
In search of innovative ways to bring Poe to new audiences, Semtner has collaborated on Poe-themed performances with groups including the Latin Ballet of Virginia, the Friends of Shockoe Hill Cemetery, and Engaging History Productions. Semtner has appeared on BBC4, PBS, Travel Channel, Military History, NPR, CNN, and other networks. He regularly speaks about a variety of unusual, obscure, and macabre subjects to groups of all ages around the country and as far away as Japan. His most recent book, The Poe Shrine: Building the World’s Finest Edgar Allan Poe Collection, tells the strange but true stories behind the Poe Museum’s artifacts.
Chris Semtner, Poe Museum (Richmond)
Roger McCormack
Roger McCormack, the education coordinator at The Bronx County Historical Society, is pleased
to be a SVA judge!
The Bronx County Historical Society’s education coordinator is in charge of tours of The
Edgar Allan Poe Cottage in Fordham, the oldest Poe Museum, first opened in 1913. The cottage was built in 1812, and is a New York City and State landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The historic house museum is famous as the final home of the writer. Mr. McCormack is excited to infuse his passion for Poe and the Bronx as an SVA Judge!
Roger McCormack, The Poe Cottage, Bronx County Historical Society
Kayanecha Daugherty
Kayenecha Daugherty is a creative professional with over 20 years of experience in entertainment, experiential events, and arts education. She began her career as one of the first interns at Hidden Beach Recordings and later founded her own company, Gypsy Soul. After six years with the Grammys, she shifted focus to build Creative Nomads and its youth arts program, Where Art Starts.
Kayenecha is dedicated to providing arts access and professional development for both emerging artists and youth, using art as a tool for education, wellness, and community-building. Her work promotes cultural cohesion and personal growth through creative engagement.
She was named a Baltimore Homecoming Hero and appointed to the Kennedy Center’s inaugural Culture Caucus in 2019, where she has championed opportunities for Baltimore artists. Through Creative Nomads, she has led several community mural projects, including a six-mural installation at The Ambassador Theatre in Baltimore.
Kayenecha Daugherty, Creative Nomads
Aditya Desai
Aditya Desai is a writer, editor, teacher, and literary programmer. He is currently Literature Programs Officer with Maryland Humanities and has worked with several organizations in the region using art towards racial equity including the CityLit Project, Baltimore Youth Arts, and the Asian Pasifika Arts Collective. He also serves as Associate Editor for the South Asian Avant-Garde, and has served on the mastheads of Guernica, Hyphen Magazine, and Atticus Review. His stories and essays appear in Tropics of Meta, Taco Bell Quarterly, Barrelhouse Magazine, The Rumpus, The Millions, and other publications. You can find more of his writing at adityadesaiwriter.com.
Aditya Desai, Maryland Humanities
Militia Vox
MILITIA VOX is an award-winning vocalist and multi-disciplinary artist known for her four-octave range and commanding stage presence. She has performed and recorded with artists including Cyndi Lauper, Living Colour, Twisted Sister, and Rob Halford of Judas Priest, and has appeared on major stages including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, as well as national tours of Rock of Ages and Jesus Christ Superstar.
In addition to her work as a performer, Militia is an award-winning visual artist, video director, and immersive (AR/VR/XR) creator. She has hosted Fuse TV’s Heavy Metal Makeover and appeared as a VJ on MTV2, VH1, and MuchMusic USA. She is a Voting Member of the Recording Academy.
Militia is a previous Saturday 'Visiter' Awards nominee, a member of the Poe Society of Baltimore, a contributing author to More Than Love: The Enduring Fascination with Edgar Allan Poe, and an advisor to Poe Baltimore.
Militia Vox, Vocalist, Director, and Multimedia Artist
José Acosta
JOSÉ ACOSTA is an Emmy Award–winning filmmaker, director, and cinematographer with a career spanning television, film, and commercial production. He earned a Southeast Emmy for his animation work on Salsa, a Georgia Public Broadcasting children’s series, and is best known for writing and directing Edgar Allan Poe’s Mystery Theatre, a PBS historical drama later released on Amazon Prime Video, which earned an Emmy nomination and a Telly Award. His recent credits include VFX Supervisor on Going Viral (2024) and cinematographer on Fried Chicken Day (2025). As founder of DoubleRaven Pictures, he has directed commercial work for major brands including AT&T, Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, ESPN, Mercedes-Benz, and PBS, with projects filmed across the United States and internationally.
José currently teaches film at Clayton State University following a return to academia at Kennesaw State University. He is a contributor to More Than Love: The Enduring Fascination with Edgar Allan Poe and serves on the Georgia Department of Education’s Fine Arts Advisory Council.
José Acosta, Emmy Award–Winning Filmmaker and Director