The Alan James Creative Bursary and Residency Programme is now closed.
The Alan James Creative Bursary:Residency and Research Programmes aim to support artists exploring new creative ideas inspired by and sourced from traditional folk music relating to England. This programme provides artists with an opportunity to undertake creative exploration without the pressure of a final product.
This year we are delighted to be partnering again with the Glasshouse International Centre for Music to offer residency space for one project in Glasshouse International Centre for Music (Gateshead).
Five projects have been awarded this year to undertake creative research and development for new folk music and/or dance projects - Two bursaries at £2,000 together with use of rehearsal space at Cecil Sharp House or the Glasshouse International Centre for Music and access to the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library, and three research bursaries of £500.
Full Bursary
● a bursary of up to £2,000
● research facilities at the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library (online and in person) and support from library and archive staff.
● up to five days of rehearsal space at Cecil Sharp House, London or the Glasshouse International, Gateshead. Applicants that wish to work elsewhere will be considered but no additional funding for space hire will be available.
● additional funding for Access needs.
Research Bursary
● a bursary of £500
● research facilities at the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library (online and in person) and support from library and archive staff.
Alan James was a 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 folk music in the context of cross-genre or cross-art form collaborations.
The award is aimed at artists with a track-record as professional creative artists. An application can be from one artist or a group of artists, and from existing groups/bands or new collaborations. Your application must clearly explain how your proposal is creatively developmental for you and your collaborators.
While applications can be for cross-genre or cross-art form projects, the primary art form needs to be music and the project should take its inspiration from folk music.
The lead artist or artists should be resident in the UK but collaborating artists can be resident overseas.
Previous bursary awardees have gone on to develop their R & D work further to produce material for recording and performance. Recent examples are albums from You Are Wolf ‘Hare//Hunter//Moth//Ghost’; Tamsin Elliott and Tarek Elazhary ‘So Far We Have Come’; and Angeline Morrisons ‘The Sorrow Songs: Folk Songs of Black British Experience’. For past recipients go to https://www.efdss.org/artist-development/artists/bursaries
Projects take place between 1 August 2026 and 31 July 2027.
Please contact Zoe Nicol ([email protected]) or Katy Spicer ([email protected]) with any questions.
Applications are now closed.
Bursaries for 2026 have been awarded to:
Alex Lyon, Finn Collinson, Finn Harty & Sam Partridge
Please see the News Page for more information.
Access
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.
Partner (2024 - 2026)
The Glasshouse is a world-class centre for performance, education, and artist development in the North East of England. Their Artist Development Programme helps emerging music creators thrive, offering a holistic approach to talent cultivation.
Some stories about recent bursaries
EFDSS is a member of the PRSF Talent Development Network which supports and brings together organisations working at the frontline of talent development across the UK – ensuring transformational support is available to a broad range of music creators based in the UK working at any career level and in any genre.
Individual donations and grants from the PRS for Music Foundation Talent Development Network Partner scheme, Arts Council England, and the Garrick Charitable Trust fund all these bursaries. They fall under the umbrella of our Artists’ Development Programme, which provides professional development support, both creative and business, to artists at all stages of their careers.
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.
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EFDSS is a member of the PRSF Talent Development Network which supports and brings together organisations working at the frontline of talent development across the UK – ensuring transformational support is available to a broad range of music creators based in the UK working at any career level and in any genre.
