War Child, the only specialist charity for children affected by conflict, is set to unveil a new, interactive installation at this year’s Glastonbury Festival. War Child works with the goal to bring hope for a brighter future to children whose lives have been torn apart by war, and true to its mission, the installation is centred around the theme of hope.
Teaming up with acclaimed graphic artist, Anthony Burrill and innovative designer Michael Marriott, War Child will bring the word HOPE to life through a striking structure in the heart of the Festival’s Silver Hayes area. The installation will feature bold typographic artwork by Burrill, echoing his renowned slogan “HOLD ON TO HOPE,” and will serve as a gathering point for reflection, creativity, and solidarity. At its core is a message that couldn’t be more urgent or universal: Even in the darkest places, hope is still possible.
Festival-goers will be able to step inside the installation and take part in “Planting Seeds of Hope”, while reflecting on the children War Child works with that are living in or fleeing from conflict zones around the world. Visitors will be invited to write down what gives them hope in dark times, on beautifully crafted postcards embedded with wildflower seeds. Each biodegradable postcard - made from recycled paper waste and printed with vegetable and water based inks - can then be “posted” into a Hope box inside the installation.
Upon the conclusion of the Festival, War Child will select a special location to plant the messages and create a ‘HOPE’ shaped wildflower garden for the following spring. The garden will serve as a living reminder of Glastonbury’s collective compassion and solidarity with those living in or fleeing from conflict, as well as the enduring power of hope. Select postcards will also be featured in an online gallery at warchild.org.uk, offering a digital space of inspiration, reflection, and positivity for all who visit the website.
Anthony Burrill said; “It’s been a huge honour to work with the amazing team at War Child on this very special project for Glastonbury Festival. At this time of seemingly never ending conflict it’s more important than ever to hold on to hope. Glastonbury brings together people in a way that teaches us there can be harmony and joy in the world.”
“War Child brings hope for a brighter future to children whose lives have been torn apart by war all over the world,” said Rich Clarke, Head of Music at War Child UK. “This installation is about connecting people through their shared sources of hope, and creating something beautiful that lives on beyond the festival. We’re incredibly grateful to Anthony and Michael for donating their time, talent, and creativity to create this installation, as well as the teams at Glastonbury for their continued support of our work at a time when we need it most. Around the world, one in five children are living in or fleeing from conflict, and we hope that through creativity, compassion, and a shared love of music, we can continue to raise much needed funds to support our work delivering aid, specialist support for trauma recovery, education, and more to vulnerable children who need it most.”
Art lovers wanting to own an iconic piece of Glastonbury Festival history can also enter War Child’s prize draw to win 1 of 5 limited edition screenprints of 'Or Else The Light', the official Glastonbury Festival 2025 artwork, signed by artists, Stanley Donwood, Michael Eavis and Emily Eavis. Each entry costs £10 and the prize draw ends Friday 20th June at 10am BST.
All funds raised will go to support War Child’s work with children living through conflict around the world. Entrants can enter as many times as they like to increase their chances of winning.
Inspired by both mediaeval and modern stained glass windows, 'Or Else The Light' reimagines these for a world with no gods but the natural world and the beauty of the sun. The title is the last four words of Margaret Atwood’s prescient 1985 novel The Handmaid’s Tale.
War Child operates in 14 countries, with teams working on the ground in some of the hardest to reach parts of the world. War Child works to create child-friendly spaces in refugee camps, set up education classes for children who have fled war and no longer have access to school, provide families with life-saving essentials, offer ongoing, specialist mental health support for children who have lived through the trauma of conflict, and campaign along with local organisations and governments to ensure the voices of the world’s most vulnerable children are heard.
