Manchester - Bee in the City!

Manchester was really buzzing with bees during the summer of 2018! Bee in the City was a free and amazing art and history trail from 23 July - 23 September. Over 100 super-sized Bees, each individually decorated, and over 130 equally artistic little Bees were displayed across historic places in Manchester.

With a special map of the trial, one could easily reach for the nearest bee in the city centre and walk along. So, we could start to explore the trial anywhere, but the great focal point certainly was Manchester Piccadilly. There, a Bee Number One stood, gloriously intriguing.

Six-foot golden chrome, the ‘Au’ bee, was there to reflect the rich, leading culture and atmosphere of the city with the meaning behind: 'Fly high and free. Set new standards. Make an impact and never be afraid of a challenge. You can "bee" what you want to "bee". 

The Bee in the City trail paid a homage to famous elements of Manchester’s history. The iconic worker bee has symbolised the city’s buzzing, vibrant and hard-working energy since the Industrial Revolution. 

Most of them have been sponsored by local businesses; the one at Manchester Piccadilly, by Virgin Trains for instance. You can find out more on the web site:https://beeinthecitymcr.co.uk/big-bees/

The walk was increasingly interesting and intriguing. To find out another bee and to learn about some ideas behind them and the setting they were located, was great fun.

There was a real colony of Bee sculptures around in the streets of Manchester, brought by local artists, groups and young people. It was one of the most exciting experiences in any city to be held.

We started our trail in the Northern Quarter, going across N.O.M.A. with the old and new Co-op buildings, moving through Corporation Street towards St. Peter's Square. 

They all are truly marvellous. We have tried to figure out the bee meanings, but it would take too much of the time. Mission impossible! Anyway, let us introduce some of Manchester's most captivating bees.

The Birds and the Bees, Distiller-Bee,  Bee Lieve in Manchester, Dazzle Bee. 

STEM Bee, Lock Keeper’s Bee, Steam-Powered Bee, Crown Jewels.

Benny the Bee, Bee Live in MCR, The Sky is Not the Limit, I Wanna Bee Adored.

Pablo Bee-Casso, A Worker Bee’s Work is Never Done, Bee-vina McCall, Love.

The Homing Bee, SuperBee, Queen Bee, Colourful Manchester Skyline Bee.

The Yellow Bee, Penny Pendo-bee-no, Hac BEE enda, ROCK ‘N’ ROLL.

Workee, Bee a Rainbow!, The Honey Dome, Mr Bee’n.

What we managed to visit was a around half of all the displays. You can imagine the massive scale of bee-in-the city. After the Summer-long event, the large Bees had taken up new habitats across the city, in businesses, shops, schools, offices.

The event was organised by Wild in Art (www.wildinart.co.uk), who were also the creative force behind the 2004's Cow Parade installation.

For more information about Bee in The City visit beeinthecitymcr.co.uk