When possible, we take our support for artists’ creative development a step further and support the commissioning of new work.
Our most recent commissions have been:
HOPE
Stronger than fear, fuelled with love, this defiantly joyous new show from our Assocate Artists Folk Dance Remixed was created in response to the challenging times we share.
In February 2022 the performance premiered at Cecil Sharp House, and toured to The Stables in Milton Keynes and The Point in Eastleigh.
Perspectives on Tradition
Ian Carter and Nicola Kearey (Stick In The Wheel, From Here Records) invited Olugbenga Adelekan (Metronomy, Africa Express), Jon 1st (DMC DJ Champion, Fly High Society) and Nabihah Iqbal (Ninja Tune, NTS) to explore our national collection of folk arts at the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library. Looking at notions of culture, tradition, collecting, cross-pollination and fragmentation of music, they brought fresh perspectives to Cecil Sharp House.
Funded by The London Community Foundation and Cockayne – Grants for the Arts.
Rising Up: Peterloo 2019
In 1819, the concept of freedom of speech, protest and democracy were tested when armed soldiers charged at peaceful protestors in what is now known as the Peterloo Massacre. Two centuries on, these principles are still under threat. This new commission tells the personal stories of two women linked across time and through experience as they struggle to rise up and find their voice.
Written by Sean Cooney (The Young’uns) and Debs Newbold (King Lear Retold, Through The Seasons) with music from Sam Carter (False Lights), Lucy Farrell (Furrow Collective) and Jim Molyneux (4Square).
The performance toured England in October 2019.
Some selected past commissions
- Theatre Ballads (with PRS for Music Foundation) 2016-2017
- Sweet Liberties (with Folk by the Oak and Houses of Parliament) 2015
- Beyond The Marches / Dros y Ffin (with trac) 2015
- Martin Simpson & Dom Flemons (with WOMAD) 2014
- The Elizabethan Session (with Folk by the Oak) 2014
- Folk Nations (with The British Council) 2013
- The Full English 2013
- The Cecil Sharp Project (with Shewsbury Folk Festival) 2011
