Rock Around the Hills have donated £2,435 to Severn Arts Music Awards Scheme after the sell-out sale of their limited-edition posters. 

The posters were exact replicas of the originals that were used to advertise Cherry Red Promotions gigs in the 1970s at Malvern Winter Gardens and featured The Damned and The Stranglers among others. In 2019 Rock Around the Hills (RATH) gathered together hundreds of items of Winter Gardens memorabilia and included them in an exhibition and website. They selected seven of these posters to reproduce as limited-edition prints, each sold with a certificate signed by Cherry Red co-founder and Rock Around the Hills trustee Richard Jones. 

Rock Around the Hills donated the money raised by the sale of the posters to Severn Arts, to add to their Music Awards Scheme which supports children and families in Worcestershire who can’t afford the full costs of musical learning.

Laura Worsfold, Severn Arts CEO said: “We were bowled over by the donation from Rock Around the Hills. It is extremely generous and will enable us to off-set the costs of musical learning for lots of children and young people in Worcestershire. We’re hoping to raise £21,000 in 2021 and help as many children and young people as possible in Worcestershire experience the joy, new skills and social benefits of music-making - this donation is a fantastic start.”

Clare Gilliam, Rock Around the Hills Trustee said: “When RATH volunteer John Sanders first had the idea of producing these limited editions, we knew they would sell well. We wanted the proceeds to go to a local music charity and decided that Severn Arts was a great cause. Who knows where the interests of today’s young musicians will take them? Perhaps some will follow in the footsteps of the rock ‘n’ roll giants! We are very pleased to be able to help support them on their individual musical journeys, wherever they may lead.”  

In the summer last year Severn Arts funded music taster sessions for 28 young people and received lots of positive feedback. One of the parents commented: “Having funding support has been amazing. My child began learning piano last October with Severn Arts and hadn't played before. He absolutely loves it and is passionate about his piano. It provides him with inspiration, creativity and a refuge when he needs it. We wouldn't have been able to fund regular lessons without support and it is making a huge difference to his life and well-being.”

To find out more and donate to the Severn Arts Music Awards Scheme