Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25,000 award prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to save the UK's small concert spaces.
Fender was presented with the prize on October 16 as his latest record his work was named the best record of the past year.
Fender has opted to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the vital role local spots fulfilled in his initial steps.
"I couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the shows I performed around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," said Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these spaces have shut down – about 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, top acts such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
Fender also participated, collecting more than £100,000 on his live tour to help 38 small stages across Britain.
The money helped spaces that were dealing with possible closure due to difficulties arising from flooding, blazes and personal losses, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Other venues obtained monetary aid in upgrading amenities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted musicians and audiences.
"The concept that funds from performances in major spaces supports the independent spots, where it all starts for performers like me, is just logical," Fender has commented.
Fender is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.
When they received the prize in the mid-90s for their album the album, vocalist the singer stated that the act would donate their cash to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, musician Ms Dynamite divided her prize across a few charities, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
"Additionally, I contributed a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they needed updated gear," the artist shared with outlets.
In recent years, they donated their funds to the local youth club that nurtured their band, alongside other local music groups.
Additionally 1994 winners M People contributed their prize to a MS organization after a friend was identified with the condition.
"The victory was ample," stated artist Small. "The money was the bonus but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory touched another person's life."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had saved two small stages in the South East, by bringing them into local control.
The Joiners in Southampton and the second in the city were purchased under the Own Our Venues program, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the venues.
