Paul McCartney enlists 61 artists for War Child benefit
Sixty-one artists have produced original pieces responding to lyrics from Paul McCartney's album 'Band on the Run'. The works will be sold to raise money for War Child, which supports children affected by conflict. Participants include Genieve Figgis, Alvaro Barrington, Joshua Donkor, Sanya Kantarovsky, Aleah Chapin, Anne Rothenstein, and George Underwood.
This is the third Sound & Vision project. The first, in 2024, drew on a David Bowie lyric. For 2026, Paul McCartney selected a Band on the Run line about rain exploding and falling into the sun. Sixty-one artists, including Genieve Figgis, Alvaro Barrington, Joshua Donkor, Sanya Kantarovsky, Aleah Chapin, Anne Rothenstein and George Underwood, made new pieces in response.
The works will be auctioned on 27 October 2026 for War Child, which helps children affected by conflict. McCartney has backed the charity since joining The Help Album in 1995 with acts such as Blur, Radiohead and Oasis. Curator Gemma Peppe, founder of AOAP Projects, said the artists approached the lyric with care and fun.
The auction may draw art collectors and music fans to War Child’s cause, potentially increasing donations for children in conflict zones. It could also show how creative collaborations between musicians and visual artists can turn pop culture nostalgia into charitable engagement. For audiences, the project may prompt reflection on war’s effects on young people, though actual impact depends on bidding, publicity, and how funds are used.