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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.
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
2025 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
LuAnn Marshall
Lu Ann Marshall, a life-long fan of all things Edgar Allan Poe since she was introduced to him in the sixth grade, has been giving tours of Westminster Cemetery & Catacombs for over 40 years. When she is not sharing her love of Poe and Westminster, she has been employed for over 50 years by the University of Maryland School of Law, most recently as Special Events Coordinator for the Events Department.
A Baltimore native, she is a University of Maryland University College alum. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, playing cards, going to the movies, and spending time with family and friends.
LuAnn Marshall, Westminster Preservation Trust
Eben Dennis
Eben Dennis is the manager of the Special Collections Department at Enoch Pratt Free Library, where he is the steward for the Edgar Allan Poe Collection among other manuscript, photograph, and rare book collections. He has worked with Maryland-related library materials for the past 15 years, spending time at the American Catholic Research Center, the Maryland Center for History and Culture, and the Baltimore City Archives before coming to Enoch Pratt in 2014. In the fall of 2021 he curated an exhibit at Central Library entitled The Life and Legacy of Edgar Allan Poe.
Eben Dennis, Enoch Pratt Free Library
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