Applications for our latest round of Alan James Creative Bursaries are now closed.
The EFDSS Creative Bursary and Residency Programme, now in its eleventh year, aims to support artists in exploring new creative ideas inspired by and sourced from traditional English folk music. This programme provides artists with an opportunity to undertake creative exploration without the pressure of a final product.
Alan James was the former Chair of EFDSS who died suddenly in April 2019. In the spirit of Alan’s eclectic musical tastes and his ability to foster exciting artistic collaborations, we are particularly interested in receiving applications which explore English folk music in the context of cross-genre or cross-art form collaborations and explorations and welcome applications from all. English folk music must be the core element of the proposal.
Six bursaries have now been awarded to the following artists for 2023:
Satnam Galsian and Maddie Morris
Tarren
The Rheingans Sisters
Rowan Sawday AKA Dizraeli
Femi Oriogun-Williams
Borges Machado
Please see the news page for more information.
All these bursaries are funded by individual donations, and grants from PRS for Music Foundation Talent Development Partner scheme and Arts Council England. They come under the umbrella of EFDSS’ Artists’ Development Programme, which provides professional development support, both creative and business, to artists at all levels of their career.
Each bursary is worth up to £2,000, and supports artists’ creative research and development together with use of rehearsal space at Cecil Sharp House and access to the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library.
Bursaries are to be completed by 29 February 2024.
Katy Spicer, EFDSS Chief Executive and Artistic Director, said: ‘Our bursaries are designed to kick-start projects, giving artists time to bring their ideas to life. We are delighted to pay tribute to Alan James with these exciting and eclectic projects.’
Past Bursary recipients have included
2022/23
2021/22
- Angeline Morrison
- You Are Wolf
- Madame Ceski
- Sophie Crawford and George Sansome: Queer Folk
- Quentin Budworth
- Lisa Heywood
2020/21
2019/20
2018/19
- Stick in the Wheel
- Rowan Rheingans
- Ben Walker & Rob Harbron
- Ian Stephenson
- Thom Ashworth
- Nicola Beazley
- Louise Jordan
- Grace Smith
2017/18
- Alex Vann of Three Cane Whale
- Emily Askew. John Dipper & Nick Hennessey
-
Tom Moore & Archie Churchill-Moss
: Laguna - Rowan Piggott
- Emily Mae Winters
- India Electric Co
- Heg Brignall
We are a founder signatory to Sound and Music’s Fair Access Principles – a code of best practice for running successful, open and inclusive artist development programmes, competitions and awards.
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EFDSS is a PRS Foundation Talent Development Partner, supported by PPL.
