Taking place this summer from July to September, Bee in the City will see Manchester hosting a huge public art exhibition. Organised by Wild in Art and supported by Manchester City Council, the free event will see over 80 giant 3-D honey bee sculptures dotted across the city, which will be decorated by professional, emerging and amateur artists from the region.

The project was launched in November of last year at the Town Hall, with the first bee sculpture painted by Jodie Silverman (pictured below in photographs taken by David Oates). If you’d like to see it up close, it is currently on display within Central Library, located on the staircase to the right of the main entrance.

The bees will be on display for nine weeks around Manchester’s landmarks, cultural gems and underexplored areas. Alongside the scultpure trail will be an inclusive learning programme, giving children and young people the chance to explore the city through creativity. Once the trail comes to an end, the bees will be auctioned to raise money for the We Love MCR charity.

For more information on the project and to sign up as an artist, sponsor or to get your school, college or community group involved, please visit the Bee in the City website. The deadline for signing up as an artist is 22nd January, so you’ve a week to get your applications in.