Kate Bush and artists harness the power of the Running Up That Hill campaign for War Child appeal Kate Bush

Kate Bush is harnessing the power of her global hit “Running Up That Hill” to collaborate with major names in British music to raise money for children caught up in global conflict.

The singer-songwriter invited 52 visual artists to respond to her lyric “If I Could, I’d Make a Deal with God” from her 1985 anthem. One of her best-loved songs and described by Rolling Stone as “one of the greatest songs of all time”, she hit the big time again in 2022 when she appeared in the fourth season of the US TV series Stranger Things.

Maggie Hambling, once described as “art’s original bad girl”, and Peter Doig, whose paintings have sold in the millions, are among those who have contributed works interpreting the lyrics to the fundraiser Sound & Vision, named after David Bowie’s 1977 song. All works will be offered in an online auction, from October 28 to November 13, with initial bids of £100 Sterling, to raise money for the War Child charity, which protects, educates and advocates for the rights of children living in war zones.

Announcing the project, Bush said: “All wars leave terrible scars: lives destroyed, families torn apart, life-altering injuries, trauma, and loss on a massive scale – but it is children who suffer most in so many ways. Their past, present and future are dissolved in fear and uncertainty.”

“It is more important than ever that we support Children of War and their invaluable work in providing immediate assistance to children caught up in conflicts around the world including Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan and Syria. Projects like Sound and Vision harness the power of art and music to make a real difference to children living through war.”

Doig contributed two signed pieces: The Hill, on the theme of the Crucifixion, and The War Child which depicts a child looking at a figure on horseback. Hambling’s contribution is titled The Midnight Wave.

Charlie Calder-Pots, Britain’s youngest official war artist who worked with the British Army in Afghanistan, and who has since traveled around the world creating works in Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan and in Yazidi refugee camps in Iraq, has created new work.

So does Corbin Shaw, famous for his textiles, prints and flags that capture contemporary Britishness through ancient craft; Susie Hamilton, a former artist-in-residence at St Paul’s Cathedral whose photographs of doctors, nurses and patients facing Covid-19 are held by the Science Museum; The unskilled worker, also known as Helen Downie, discovered drawing at the age of 48 and rocketed to industry-wide fame, growing her Instagram following to more than 280,000.

The exhibition, curated by Art on a Postcard and sponsored by DHL, will be on display at Iconic Images gallery in Piccadilly, London, from 4 to 8 November. Contributors also include LUAP, Hannah Lim, Kate McCrickard, Erin Lawlor, Jill Paton, Adam Dix, David Harrison, Gideon Rubin, Beau Saville, Shezad Dowd and Natalia Gonzalez-Martin, while Peter Messer and Nick Grindrod will return after their involvement with Sound & Vision last year.

Bush follows in Bowie’s footsteps as a supporter of War Child. Bowie helped organize a fundraising exhibition for the charity in 1994 entitled Little pieces of big stars, Which 30 years later was the inspiration for last year’s first Sound & Vision where artists responded to the lyric “We love to dance and we look great” from his song Rebel Rebel.

Curator Gemma Bibby, founder of Art on a Postcard, said Bush’s lyricism had “prompted some great contemporary artists to produce some vibrant and evocative works”. She said Doig asked if he could participate. “I almost fell out of my chair. This is a testament to the amazing work War Child does.”

Charlotte Nimmo from War Child UK, which is present in a number of active conflict zones including Ukraine and Gaza, said: “We are delighted to announce the return of Sound & Vision, this year inspired by Kate Bush’s incredible lyrics. This has been made possible by the enormous generosity of both Kate and her team, as well as the outstanding artists who are creating and donating pieces inspired by Kate’s lyrics.