London Met Graduate Tracey Emin lends her talents to Band Aid 30

Alumna and Honorary Doctor Tracey Emin designs cover for new Band Aid single.

Date: 27 November 2014

London Metropolitan University graduate Tracey Emin, the world famous artist, has designed the cover for the latest edition of the Band Aid Christmas single.

The new version of the song, which marks the original’s thirtieth anniversary, features One Direction, Rita Ora, Bono amongst other famous artists and aims to raise money to tackle the continuing Ebola crisis in West Africa.

Emin’s minimalist design incorporates one of the artist's signature neon text works and reads “Faith, Love, Trust, You Me and the World”.

Emin studied Printmaking at Sir John Cass College, a predecessor institution of the University’s Sir John Cass Faculty of Art, Architecture and Design (the Cass).

She applied upon hearing Joe Strummer from The Clash claiming that unqualified people could attend a course at the institution for just £1 a year. After queuing up with her portfolio she was offered a place.

Emin is now recognised as one of the most powerful women in Britain and her work is well known across the world.

In 2007 she was made a Doctor of Philosophy by London Metropolitan University in recognition of her contribution to art.

“The news that our alumna Tracey has contributed to this campaign is of particular interest because the University and Faculty have very strong links with Sierra Leone, one of the countries most affected by the crisis”, said Michael Upton, Academic Leader at the Cass.

“This year we signed an agreement with the University of Sierra Leone and the Sierra Leone Institute of Architects to help found Sierra Leone's first School of Architecture.

“The development builds on a series of successful projects by our Architecture of Rapid Change and Scarce Resources (ARCSR) Research Group in the country, and it is now hoped that this new School will contribute to the sustainable development of buildings and critical infrastructure for a Post-Ebola Sierra Leone.”


Buy the song and donate from Band Aid 30 website. For further information and to donate directly to the Ebola Crisis Appeal go to the Disasters Emergency Committee website.