Sam Fender has donated the complete sum of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the trust for venues, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.
Fender was presented with the prize on October 16 as his third album the album was named the outstanding release of the past year.
The musician has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role local spots played in his early career.
"I personally wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the shows I did around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," remarked the artist. "These venues are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, well-known musicians including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its attempts to help venues survive, by including a modest fee to their ticket prices, which supports smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also took part, raising more than £100,000 on his recent tour to support numerous local spots across the UK.
These funds assisted spaces that were confronting possible closure due to challenges caused by flooding, fires and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and sound issues.
Some locations were granted funding support in upgrading amenities and gear that positively impacted artists and audiences.
"The idea that funds from shows in large arenas helps the smaller venues, where it begins for performers like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has said.
The musician is among several artists to contribute his honor prize money to worthy causes.
Back when they won the award in 1996 for their record their work, vocalist Jarvis Cocker declared that the band would contribute their cash to the organization War Child.
During 2002, artist Ms Dynamite divided her award between multiple good causes, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I gave a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," the artist told a publication.
In recent years, Ezra Collective gave their prize money to the community center that developed their band, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Also winners that year the group gave their prize to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the illness.
"The victory was ample," said artist the singer. "The prize was the bonus but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our winning affected somebody else's life."
Last week, the MVT shared it had saved two local spots in that region, by placing them under community ownership.
The first in the city and the second in that location were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is funded by the arts council and supporters who buy "stakes" in the properties.
