The Alan Surtees Trust is a grant giving organisation that supports young performers whose work is rooted in, or influenced by, traditional music and arts of any culture.
It was set up in memory of Alan Surtees, the co-founder and director of Shrewsbury Folk Festival, in 2017.
The 2024 recipients have been announced. The 2025 funding round will open next spring.
Applicants for a grant from the Alan Surtees Trust should be aged between 16 and 30 at the time of applying. They must live in the UK and not already have significant financial backing.
What we will fund
What we won’t fund
The 2024 recipients have been announced. The 2025 funding round will open next spring.
The folk scene is still relatively small and often feels like a big family. Alan was definitely seen as an important member of the family by many artists. He and Sandra have supported hundreds of musicians, right from the beginnings of their careers, and have always had an eye for spotting potential.
Not only that, they have also given opportunities to more established artists to create new works for the festival, whether they be new collaborations between artists, new dance shows, or new repertoires of songs. Shrewsbury Folk Festival continues to support and contribute to the ongoing evolution of our music. If we want this music to thrive, this is exactly what organisers of festivals need to be doing and it’s what makes this festival particularly special.
All profits from this album will raise funds for the trust to give out grants to young and emerging musicians and new projects. As someone who has benefitted from the generosity of Shrewsbury Folk Festival, I want to take the baton and keep some of this support and momentum going. It seems like a very fitting way to serve Alan’s memory.
Hannah James
Founding trustee of the Alan Surtees Trust
