A pair of very special am-bee-ssadors will be the toast of Barcelona later this year.
The Vale arts centre in Mossley, Tameside, has been a hive of activity as two of Catalonia’s most celebrated makers of giant puppets joined a trio of creatives from resident international Carnival arts organisation Global Grooves.
The task at hand was the creation of two unique giant bee puppets that will represent the region at Barcelona’s most important annual street festival.
Called La Mercè, the Festival takes place at the end of September and Manchester has been named as this year’s guest city, following in the footsteps of Casablanca in Morocco last year. Loved by locals and tourists alike, a huge number of events run over a whole week and include street processions, concerts, street arts and traditional cultural celebrations.
The towering Queen Bee has a trick up her sleeve: she can transform into a maypole and her beautiful flowing ribbons will be grasped by a group of dancers from Oldham, who will travel with her to the Festival. Her incredible costume will incorporate hand printed fabrics that represent Greater Manchester’s diverse communities, as well as references to its industrial past linked to the cotton industry.
Whilst the 4m long Worker Bee will be resplendent in fibreglass-encased hand painted silks, which symbolise the global textile histories of Manchester and Barcelona. Glowing in the light as if it is fashioned from the finest stained-glass, its copper-clad legs and cog motifs will reference the iconic textile mills of the two cities and the birth of the Industrial Revolution.
Amongst the materials used to make the pair of bees are wood, clay, plaster, recycled cogs, fiberglass and fabric.
Mel Roberts, lead artist for Global Grooves, said: “Having Catalan puppet making legends Dolors Sans and Pau Reig in residence for a week at the Northern Carnival Centre of Excellence at The Vale has been the stuff of dreams.
“Their knowledge and skills are second to none, and it has been a true cultural exchange, with the Global Grooves team sharing our vast experience of puppet building, whilst learning some incredible new skills in return.
“The finished bees are some weeks off, and our expert makers and volunteers still have lots of work to do, but we are very excited to see how they turn out.”
For Global Grooves’ CEO Leon Patel, taking the bees to Barcelona is a real full circle moment. Leon, who grew up in Mossley, first took part in the Festival as a teenager, as part of the group Mossley Community Arts.
He said: “In 1998, we turned an old 2CV car into a giant puppet called ‘The Mossley Dragon’ and took it to Barcelona. It was all very DIY and haphazard, but a huge amount of fun and the experience has stayed with me and influenced my work with Global Grooves ever since.
“We are very grateful to outdoor arts organisations XTRAX and Without Walls for this amazing opportunity to collaborate with two world class Catalan artists and to then return to Barcelona and officially represent the region.
“Our bees will be taking part in two major Festival events called Passejada de Bèsties (Parade of the Beasts) and Passejada de Gegants (Parade of the Giants) and it is just incredible to think that 27 years later, Mossley will once again be represented at one of Europe’s most exciting street arts events.”
Cllr Leanne Feeley, executive member for lifelong learning and culture, Tameside MBC, said: “It’s really exciting to see the Queen Bee puppet being created and it’s going to be fantastic to see it play a key role in such major European festivals.
“We’re really proud of Global Grooves having a home in Mossley and the creative arts are integral to Tameside so it’s great we are a small part of something so special.”
Cllr Peter Dean, cabinet member for culture and leisure, Oldham Council, said: “We’re incredibly proud to see Oldham artists and cultural organisations represented on the global stage through this prestigious partnership with Barcelona’s La Mercè Festival.
“This is a fantastic opportunity not just for Manchester, but for the wider region — including Oldham — to showcase our creative talent, build international links, and celebrate the diversity and energy of our communities. Oldham Council is committed to supporting cultural collaboration that inspires pride, participation, and possibility for all our residents.”
The bees and accompanying dancers are produced by Global Grooves and commissioned by XTRAX. It is supported by Manchester City Council, Arts Council England and XTRAX and funded by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), GM Arts, Oldham Council, and Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council.
