The Young Saturday 'Visiter' Awards

The Young Saturday ‘Visiter’ Awards (SVAs) are a new honor, presented by Poe Baltimore and the Baltimore National Heritage Area, recognizing High School students in Maryland who create artistic works inspired by Edgar Allan Poe.  The prizes honor media, art, performance and writing that adapts or is inspired by Poe’s life and works, created by a High School student (grade 9 - 12 or equivalent during the 2024-25  School Year) in the State of Maryland. 

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 a local 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 helped to launch the famed writer’s career. 

Works in any medium and genre (including digital or web-based works) are eligible. Entries are not limited to writing; graphical works, film, comics, music, live performance etc. may all be eligible. Only works created or performed by an individual who is a Maryland High School Student (grades 9-12 or equivalent during the 2024-25 School Year) are eligible to be entered. Works published or created in a language other than English are eligible, but at this time the work must provide English-language subtitles.

Entries may be submitted by any student artist, producer, publisher, author or any member of the creative team. Only works created by the student are eligible: ensemble teams may not include non-student members except in an advisory role; if the student contributed to a greater ensemble work, only the portion created/performed by the student will be considered. (Should you have questions about eligibility before submitting, please contact the Awards administrator contact@poefestinternational.org)

Nominees for the Young Saturday 'Visiter' Awards will be announced in December and the award presented on or before Poe's birthday, January 19, 2025. One award will be presented in each of two categories: Adaptation of Poe's life and/or writing; Original works inspired by Poe's life or writing. 

­­Entries may be submitted within the following categories: 

1. “Adaptations of E.A. Poe’s Life or Works” 

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 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 works rather than academic or critical interpretation, so critical or academic treatises do not qualify for entry. Biographical entries that judges feel are ahistorical may be moved to the ”original works” category at the discretion of the judges or administrator.

2. “Original works inspired by E.A. Poe’s Life or Writing” 

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. 

High School Students as of the 2024-25 school year in the State of Maryland (grades 9-12 or homeschool equivalent) are eligible to enter a work for consideration.

Entries may be submitted by any student artist, producer, publisher, author, or any member of the creative team. Only works created by the student are eligible: ensemble teams may not include non-student members except in an advisory role; if the student contributed to a greater ensemble work, only the part created/performed by the student will be considered. (Should you have questions about eligibility before submitting, please contact the Awards administrator contact@poefestinternational.org)

Works in any medium and genre (including digital or web-based works) are eligible. Entries are not limited to writing; graphical works, film, comics, music, live performance etc. may all be eligible. Only works created or performed by an individual who is a Maryland High School Student (grades 9-12 or equivalent) during the 2024-25 School Year are eligible to be entered. 

Works published or created in a language other than English are eligible, but at this time the work must provide English-language subtitles.

Parent/Guardian consent is required should the work be nominated. If selected, the Awards administrator will contact the nominee’s Parent/Guardian to obtain permission to announce the student’s name and work in a Press Release and Festival notice. Failure to reach and obtain this permission from the Parent/Guardian will result in forfeit of the entry for announcement.  

The primary consideration for judging submissions will be overall quality. Popularity or sales will not determine selection of nominees. The purpose of the Saturday Visiter Awards is to celebrate Poe’s continuing legacy in the arts, and to recognize a new generation of artists and writers who keep Poe in popular culture.

Entries are submitted and processed digitally via the Young Saturday Visiter Awards portal beginning June 1. Deadline to enter is October 31, 2024. There is no fee to enter a work for consideration. Every work will require separate entry form, limit ONE per category. Entrants must provide Parent/Guardian contact information (anonymous entries are not permitted, though you may request we use a pseudonym) and a valid URL/link to the work for the judges to consider. A statement must accompany your submissions, indicating title of the work and the selected category. Every entrant must provide the title of the piece and the artist credits. 

Longform entries such as novels or works for stage, television, web or film should provide a link to the entire work, plus notes bookmarking a representative chapter or segment (5,000 words) or timestamp for representative segment (10 minutes) for the judges’ first round consideration. Entrants may later be asked to provide additional information/materials at the judges’ discretion. Scripts may also be submitted as supporting materials for performances such as film/web/television or as a separate entry. Entrants are strongly advised to provide link to a format easily accessible to the judges (PDFs encouraged) that does not require specialized software to play or open. Do not send URL that requires password to enter as this may impede the judges’ access. 

Should you feel your piece is best represented in physical format, you will have opportunity to share this with the judges, however URL for entry is still required. 

The use of artificial intelligence (a.k.a. AI) programs is not prohibited, however self-identifying when such a program may or may not have been used is important for transparency and fairness. We require artists/creators to self-identify when their work is generated in whole or part using an AI program. There is no penalty for use of such programs, however artists are required to share these process details as part of their description. If an entry is later determined to be AI generated, the entry/prize will be disqualified or the award rescinded.

An independent panel of judges will carefully consider all entries and choose a final ballot of up to three (3) nominees in each category. The nominees will be notified and announced during the International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards virtual program. Once chosen, nominees are notified and awarded a “nominee” designation to adorn their work. Nominees are then ranked by the judging panel and one in each category selected for awards.

The Young Saturday Visiter Awards will be presented during a special ceremony on or before the anniversary of Poe’s birthday, January 19, 2024.

Winners are awarded a prize medal, cash prize, and a “Saturday Visiter Award Winner” designation to adorn their work for all time. Winners are also invited to attend the following year’s Poe Fest International to present their winning work and meet attendees.

• September 3: Call for entries opens
• October 31: Deadline for entries
• December 1: Nominees notified/announced
• January 19, 2025: Awards Ceremony

Poe Baltimore 

(Attn: SVA Coordinator) 

PO Box 23773

Baltimore, MD 21223

contact@poefestinternational.org

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. 

The mission of the Baltimore National Heritage Area (BNHA) a 501(c)(3) is dedicated to promoting, preserving, and enhancing Baltimore's historic and cultural legacy and natural resources for current and future generations. BNHA is one of 13 certified heritage areas in Maryland and one of 55 Congressionally designated national heritage areas across the country. ExploreBaltimore.org.

The Saturday Visiter Awards are administered and copyright by Poe Baltimore. All rights reserved.

UPDATED 9/3/2024