The BBC Performing Arts Fund, a charity set up in 2003 (formerly Fame Academy Bursary Trust) which is committed to developing new performing arts talent from across the UK has announced today 32 lucky individuals who have been awarded Fellowships. From a choreographer to a poet, those awarded come from mixed disciplines and from across the UK.
Amongst them is Sheffield based traditional folk singer Rosie Hood who will work with the English Folk Dance and Song Society over the next 12 months to develop her artistic skills and professional opportunities, offering her guidance in a number of areas.
According to EFDSS this is the second time in three years that a folk musician has received a Fellowship – singer songwriter Maz O’Connor was the recipient of an award in 2013.
Rosie, like any traditional singer has an interest in the history of folk song although she declares a particular interest in her native Wiltshire where she has spent time researching the local archives and developing a broad repertoire of local songs.
She released a solo self-titled EP in 2011 and has performed at many of the country’s leading festivals and folk clubs as well as opening for the Cecil Sharp Project. She is also a member of The Dovetail Trio who along with BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nominee Jamie Roberts and Newcastle Folk Degree alumnus Matt Quinn have been touring this year.
She has more than musical strings to her bow…she’s also a talented illustrator, she designed the cover of Bella Hardy’s Christmas single ‘I Would Bring You The Moon’ which we featured as a Song of the Day on Folk Radio UK. Her other illustrations take inspiration from science such as the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva which inspired her to produce a series of prints.
Talking about the award she said
“I’m completely thrilled to have been awarded a Performing Arts Fund Fellowship with EFDSS.
“The combined knowledge, expertise and contacts of the society will be an invaluable resource to me over the coming year and I already feel more confident in my goals knowing that EFDSS believe in my ability to achieve them.
“The potential of what I might accomplish in this Fellowship is incredibly exciting and just a little bit daunting! I can’t wait to throw myself into it and develop musically, creatively and professionally in 2015.”
Talking about Rosie’s fellowhip award Katy Spicer, EFDSS Chief Executive added:
“EFDSS is very excited to be part of the BBC Performing Arts Fund Fellowships and be working with Rosie over the next 12 months.
“She is a highly talented young artist at a stage in her career when this support can really help her to develop both her creative and business skills.”
Miriam O’Keeffe, Director of the BBC Performing Arts Fund says:
“Thirty-two amazing talents from across the UK will benefit from a year of sustained support from wonderful arts organisations, enabling them to really build on their talent and reach their potential. The diversity of the Fellows, from opera to spoken word, theatre to dance, from Northern Ireland to Southampton, shows a real commitment by the BBC Performing Arts Fund to support the sector.”
www.dovetailtrio.com
www.rosiehood.co.uk
www.efdss.org