Secret 7"

2 Mar-17 Mar 2024

Credit: Charles Emerson

Overview

War Child presents Secret 7”, the anonymous charity record sale where leading names from the worlds of music and art collaborate to produce 700 one-of-a-kind 7” singles.

Open to the public between 2 – 17 March, the exhibition will transform NOW Gallery into a display of 700 individual sleeve designs submitted by creatives from around the world – ranging from household names to talented newcomers. At the end of the exhibition run, the 700 records feature in an online auction. There’s just one twist: the identity of the artist behind the record sleeve isn’t revealed until it’s sold. Therein lies the secret. All proceeds will benefit War Child.

Running from 2012 – 2020, the original Secret 7” captured the imaginations of record collectors and art connoisseurs alike by bringing the two artforms together with the help of a surprise element. Having raised over £500,000 for charity causes in its first iteration, the much-loved Secret 7” project is now being relaunched by War Child to support its goal of ensuring a safe future for every child affected by war. 

The concept behind Secret 7” is simple. 7 iconic musicians provide a track, each of which features on a limited edition pressing of 100 7” vinyl records. Artists from all over the world contribute unique sleeve designs.

Previous contributing sleeve designers have included the likes of Sir Peter Blake, Yoko Ono, Sir Paul Smith, and Jake and Dinos Chapman.

Submissions are now closed! We are busy looking through everyone’s amazing artworks and will be in contact with everyone who entered to let them know if they have made it into the show by 28th February.

Secret 7” Tracks for 2024 

AURORA – ‘A DIFFERENT KIND OF HUMAN’
CELESTE – ‘STOP THIS FLAME’
HOZIER – ‘SWAN UPON LEDA’
SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES – ‘LULLABY’
PAUL MCCARTNEY – ‘PIPES OF PEACE’
THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS FEAT. BECK – ‘SKIPPING LIKE A STONE’
THE SPECIALS – ‘WE SELL HOPE’

NOW Gallery and Greenwich Peninsula Senior Cultural Projects Manager, Kaia Charles said, “We are looking forward to supporting War Child through the creative synergy of art and music. NOW Gallery is thrilled that Secret 7” is returning to Greenwich Peninsula in 2024 – which marks the gallery’s 10th year anniversary.” 

ABOUT WAR CHILD

War Child UK is the only specialist charity for children affected by conflict. War Child creates safe spaces for children to play, learn and access psychological support. Its aim is to reach children as early as possible when conflict breaks out and stay to support them through their recovery – keeping them safe, helping them learn and cope with their experiences, and equipping them with skills for the future. 

War Child understands children’s needs, respects their rights, and puts them at the centre of the solution and campaigns for changes to policies and practices to support children in conflict, working with children and young people themselves to demand their rights. It also specialises in responding rapidly to emergency crisis situations as-they-happen, to offer immediate and critical aid to keep children safe and help them through their trauma. Together with its partners War Child UK delivers vital, life-saving work in six countries across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. In 2022 War Child supported 256,000 children and adults, and money raised from Secret 7” will help bolster that figure.  www.warchild.org.uk | Registered charity number: 1071659 

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