Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize prize money to the MVT, which operates to save the United Kingdom's small music venues.
Fender was presented with the cheque on October 16 as his latest record People Watching was chosen as the outstanding release of the previous year.
He has chosen to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the essential function local spots fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing my current career if it weren't for all the performances I performed around the North East, and further afield, when I was just getting going," said Sam Fender. "These venues are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these venues have ceased operations – roughly one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a modest fee to their ticket costs, which benefits local stages.
Sam Fender also joined in, generating in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to assist 38 local spots across Britain.
These funds helped spaces that were confronting potential shutdown due to difficulties stemming from flooding, blazes and personal losses, as well as permit problems, court cases and neighbor objections.
Some locations were granted monetary aid in upgrading infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and fans.
"The idea that money from performances in big venues backs the smaller venues, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has said.
Fender is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize funds to worthy causes.
Back when the band won the award in 1996 for their album their work, frontman Jarvis Cocker announced that the band would donate their cash to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, artist the artist split her prize among multiple organizations, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also contributed a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked updated gear," the artist shared with outlets.
Previously, they donated their winnings to the community center that nurtured their band, alongside other independent music bodies.
Additionally 1994 winners they gave their award to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.
"Receiving the award was ample," stated artist Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our victory affected the lives of others."
Last week, the trust shared it had saved a couple of small stages in that region, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The first in Southampton and The Croft in the city were bought under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is funded by a national body and supporters who purchase "shares" in the properties.
