The EFDSS Creative Bursary and Residency Programme, now in its 9th 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. Please note artists must be living in the UK.
The award offers
- a bursary of up to £2,000,
- research facilities at the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library,
- and up to five days of rehearsal space at Cecil Sharp House*.
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. There are four awards to be made.
The award is aimed at artists with a track-record as professional creative artists. The bursary may be used to fund e.g. artists’ fees, travel and accommodation. Artists should be seeking research and development funding rather than additional funding for an existing project. Artists will have the opportunity to informally share the outcomes of the research and development at the end of their residency if they wish to EFDSS staff and invited guests in person or through audio/video recordings.
Previous bursary awardees have gone on to developed their R & D work further to produce material for recording and performance, and complete new shows including Rowan Rheingans’ Dispatches on the Red Dress; Sam Sweeney’s Fiddle: Made in the Great War (show/album); Ben Nicholl’s Kings of the South Seas (show/album); Lisa Knapp’s Hunt the Hare (album); and Tom Moore and Archie Churchill Moss’ Laguna (album).
Closing date for applications: Wednesday 26 May 2021
Candidates informed by Wednesday 30 June 2021: Bursaries to be completed by 28 February 2022
These bursaries are funded by individual donations, and grants from Arts Council England and PRS Foundation.