Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Saturday Visiter Awards (and why do you keep misspelling “visitor”)?
The Saturday Visiter Awards are a new honor, presented by Poe Baltimore, recognizing Edgar Allan Poe’s continuing legacy in the arts and literature around the world. The prizes will honor media, art, performance and writing that adapts or is inspired by Poe’s life and works.
Though he was not wealthy in his lifetime, Edgar Allan Poe was the first American writer to support himself entirely by his pen. The Saturday Visiter was the name—and spelling—of the periodical that held a contest for poetry and short stories. Poe won the award for his short story “MS Found in a Bottle” (which he wrote at Poe House.) The Saturday Visiter Awards are named after the prize a young Edgar Allan Poe won while he lived in Baltimore which launched the famed writer’s career.
The awards will be given in two categories: works that adapt Poe’s life or works (including biography, or true adaptations of his poetry or prose), and original works that are inspired by Poe’s life or writing. In addition, important "Poe Places", including The Poe Museum (Richmond, VA) , The Poe Cottage (the Bronx NYC) and Poe House (Baltimore , MD) will highlight exceptional entries specific to their region.
The awards will be presented by Poe Baltimore at The International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards in October, in Baltimore, Maryland.
When will eligibility criteria and guidelines be announced?
Are the awards for writing only?
No! In fact, the awards are open to artists, filmmakers, theater groups, musicians, composers... and also writers. Anyone who has created work inspired by or adapting Poe is welcome to enter. Eligibility criteria are outlined here.
How are the nominees selected?
A call for entries will open on January 19th (Poe’s birthday) every year. Call for entries will close on May 30. From these entries, the nominees in each category will be chosen by a committee of judges based on criteria as stated in the entry rules. Nominees will be informed of their selection by July 30. Winners will be announced at the festival and awards given at a reception during Poe Fest Int’l in October.
There will be ten (10) nominees in each category. There will be three (3) winners in each category.
Who selects the judges, and on what basis?
The judging panel is invited and selected by the Poe Baltimore Board of Directors. While Poe Baltimore will accept inquiries from parties interested in joining the Awards Selection Panel in subsequent years, the Poe Baltimore Board of Directors is the governing body for selection and committee selection is by invitation only.
Poe Baltimore is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization created to fund, maintain and interpret The Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum, and to celebrate the legacy of one of Baltimore’s most famous residents. The organization is dedicated to maintaining the museum as a vibrant experience for the thousands of visitors who come from around the world each year, and as part of a broader mission of city-wide events and educational opportunities celebrating Poe’s legacy in Baltimore and beyond.