Sam Fender has handed over the complete sum of his £25,000 honor prize money to the trust for venues, which works to save the UK's grassroots concert spaces.
Fender was awarded the award on mid-October as his latest record the album was named the top album of the past year.
The musician has opted to donate the funds to the MVT, in appreciation of the vital role small stages played in his beginning days.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing this success if it weren't for all the shows I played around the region, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," said Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, major artists including the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.
He also participated, generating over £100k on his live tour to help thirty-eight small stages across the UK.
These funds assisted venues that were confronting possible closure due to challenges arising from water damage, fires and personal losses, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and sound issues.
Additional spaces received funding support in modernizing infrastructure and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted musicians and concertgoers.
"The notion that funds from concerts in large arenas helps the smaller venues, where it all starts for artists like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.
He is among several artists to donate his Mercury Prize funds to good deeds.
In Pulp received the trophy in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, frontman the singer stated that the band would donate their prize money to the charity War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer the artist divided her bounty across multiple good causes, including the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I donated a grand to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," the artist shared with the media.
Previously, the band gave their funds to the community center that nurtured their band, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
Also 1994 winners the group gave their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a close contact was identified with the illness.
"The victory was sufficient," remarked artist Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the cake. So our winning touched the lives of others."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had rescued two small stages in south-east England, by bringing them into local control.
The Joiners in the city and The Croft in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues program, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "shares" in the venues.
