At a time when so much of the news is bad and the Ukraine war is continuing to dominate our screens, it can feel like it’s hard to make a difference.
However, that doesn’t have to be the case: London’s thriving culture scene is buzzier than ever, and full of ways for you to help out while also indulging in some of the best things that the capital has to offer.
Take a look at our round-up below.
Idris Khan’s I Thought We Had More Time
As Ukrainian orphans arrive in London, artist Idris Khan has created a piece of work to raise money for the victims.
In support of the Evening Standard’s Ukraine Appeal, Khan has created I Thought We Had More Time…, which will be sold in a timed edition. The piece features the colours of the Ukrainian flag, painted in watercolour over collaged music paper.
Khan revealed that he created the work in “one of those moments of coming into studio, grabbing things in front of you and seeing what you can make”. The piece will be available for £300 from Migrate Art’s website for the next 10 days.
All profits will go to our Ukraine Appeal, which has raised over £100,000 in funds for the Disasters Emergency Committee. For more information visit: migrateart.com/products/idriskhan
Solidarity Prints for Artists at Risk
Fancy grabbing a print from your favourite artist – and fundraising into the bargain?
A group of high-profile international artists have been donating artwork to be sold as open edition prints to raise money for the Artists at Risk organisation. With prints costing €200 each, all proceeds will go support the Artists at Risk non-profit organisation and help them organise emergency travel, shelter and financial support for artists fleeing the region.
If you like Hito, Steyerl, Nan Goldin, Isaac Julien or Rosemarie Trockel (among many others), this could be the ideal time to clinch a bargain. Find out more here.
John Rutter Composes A Ukrainian Prayer
Calling all fans of classical music! If you’re looking for a rather more unusual way to support Ukrainian refugees, composer and conductor John Rutter has composed a new piece of music called A Ukrainian Prayer for a-Capella.
“How can a composer respond to a global tragedy? By writing music is the most obvious thing,” he said.
“I went to a late night service in my old college chapel, where they sang a setting of a lovely Ukrainian prayer. So, having encountered the text in another musical setting on Wednesday night, on Thursday, I wrote my own music. I hope the meaning of the text will resonate in people’s hearts.”
Though the score for the music is free of charge, Rutter and his team suggests you may like to make a donation to the Disaster Emergency Fund instead. Do it here.
Thaddaeus Ropac’s fundraiser
If you’re feeling particularly flush, why not check out the Thaddaeus Ropac team’s fundraiser?
With galleries across Europe and in London, Ropac has called upon its formidable roster of artists to help raise money for the Disasters Emergency Committee, Medicins Sans Frontieres and the Austrian Red Cross.
Many of the gallery’s artists, including Antony Gormley and Martha Jungwirth, have donated painted and sculptures, which the team are now selling via online exhibition across Europe. 100 per cent of the proceeds will be going to charity, so you can pick up some unique pieces safe in the knowledge that you’re also doing good.
View the online exhibition here.
Art 4 Ukraine
If photographs are more your thing, consider getting involved with Art 4 Ukraine. The images on sale, which all feature works about Ukraine or by Ukrainian artists, show snapshots of life around the country. Run by theprintspace, the initiative is intended to serve “as a reminder of the beauty and diversity of the Ukrainian people, culture and land.”
Until midnight on 23rd March, they’re also all for sale for £100 a print and all profits will be split between Choose Love and War Child. Grab yours here.
Concert For Ukraine
If modern pop music is more your thing, then why not a star-studded fundraising concert?
With Camila Cabello, Ed Sheeran, Emeli Sandé, Gregory Porter and Snow Patrol all confirmed guests, the concert will take the form of a live two-hour show which will be broadcast live on ITV and STV (and also takes place IRL, in Birmingham).
Audiences will be encouraged to donate throughout the show, while all sponsorship and advertising revenue from the event – which is expected to raise over £3m – will also be donated by ITV to the DEC appeal.
Tickets go on sale today, so grab yours here: it takes place on Tuesday March 29 and promises to be a night to remember.
Connect Art Fair
The beloved Connect Art Fair will be returning to the Mall Galleries from tomorrow and it will be taking the time to support Ukraine.
Alongside the more traditional stalls, the art dealers have put together a Wall of Paintings from which either the proceeds, profit or a percentage of sales will go to the DEC. If you’re in the market for paintings, drawings or prints, then head there – but if you’re in the mood for something a little more exotic, how about the flying cap and scarf that belonged to the RAF hero Sir Douglas Bader? It’s being auctioned off from £25,000 and 33 per cent of the proceeds will go to charity.
Find out more about the art fair here.
Comedy Benefits for the Ukrainian Conflict
Get ready to experience the power of laughter with this all-star comedy gig.
Featuring a who’s who of UK comedy talent, including Alan Carr, Dara O’Briain, Jo Brand, Romesh Ranganathan and Michael McIntyre, the two shows will run on Monday March 28 and Wednesday March 30, with all profits from the event going to the British Red Cross.
With tickets already on sale, don’t miss out – click here to get yours.
Slava Ukraini at Southbank
Though it’s last-minute, don’t let the short notice stop you from experiencing a top-tier night of entertainment.
Set at the Southbank Centre, the event is pitched as a “specially curated night of music, poetry and spoken word”. And you’ll be getting plenty of bang for your buck: £25 will let you see everybody from actors Ben Whishaw and Maisie Williams to electronic musician Jon Hopkins and the London Contemporary Orchestra.
Even better, all proceeds from the event will be donated to the DEC, so there’s no excuse for not getting involved. It starts at 8pm tonight, March 22: grab your tickets here.
SOAS Fundraiser concert for Ukraine
The SOAS University of London has announced a new Concert for Ukraine, bringing together top-tier musicians from across the world in what promises to be an unforgettable night.
Tune in to see Ukranian-Polish jazz harpist Alina Bzezhinska, Slovakian singer Julia Kozakova, Colombian harpist Diego Laverde and more, with all proceeds going to the humanitarian aid effort.
The concert will be taking place at 6pm on March 25: find out more here.
The Royal Opera - Concert for Ukraine
A must-watch event for any culture vulture around London. The Royal Opera House is announcing a series of initiatives to support Ukraine and raise money for the DEC, the first of which is a concert for Ukraine which will be taking place on 15 April.
Ukrainian Oksana Lyniv will be joining Music Director of The Royal Opera Antonio Pappano on the podium to conduct an international roster of artists, including Ukrainian tenor Dmytro Popov, Ukrainian baritone Yuriy Yurchuk and South African soprano Pretty Yende. With ticket prices ranging from £4 to £100, it’s affordable whatever your budget. Take a look here.
The Royal Ballet - Swan Lake
If that’s not enough, keep your eyes peeled for a very special performance of Swan Lake at the Royal Opera House to raise money for the DEC.
Taking place on May at 7.30pm, the principal dancers of The Royal Ballet - Lauren Cuthbertson, Sarah Lamb, Marianela Nuñez and Natalia Osipova - will join forces to share the role of Odette across the four acts of this iconic repertory favourite. It’s a Company first, and tickets will be on sale from £10-200: find out more here.
Poets for Ukraine
Something for those in need of a little spoken-word enjoyment.
Ukrainian poets, both on the frontline and abroad, will join British celebrities and international poets at a fundraising event for Ukraine on Sunday 27th March. Featuring stars like Harriet Walter, Juliet Stevenson and Jessie Ware alongside the best of British poetry, including Carol Ann Duffy, former Scottish Makar Jackie Kay and former National Poet of Wales Gillian Clarke, it’s not one to miss.
The fundraiser will feature a day-long Poem-a-Thon where poets will read their work for up to five minutes in front of live and virtual audiences, followed by an evening gala. All money will go to Ukrainian refugee charities Good for Good and Hope and Aid Direct.
Book tickets for poem-a-thon daytime event here; book tickets for evening gala event here.
