Fifteen high-profile Manchester businesses have signed up to support the city’s latest creative adventure – its biggest ever public art trail, Bee in the City.
Wild in Art is delighted to announce its first corporate Sponsors (listed in order of sign-up): Pinsent Masons LLP, Manchester Central, Manchester Arndale, Ellis Brigham, Great Northern Warehouse, Deloitte, LDC (the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group), BDO, The Printworks, The Oast House and DWF.
On the higher tier, four Official Supporters have also been secured; U+I Group PLC, which is leading the regeneration of the historic Mayfield site near Manchester Piccadilly Station, will provide vital space for sculpture painting and storage at the site.
TfGM will partner with Bee in the City to help visitors making a bee-line for the trail explore the bees by Metrolink, train, bus, bike or on foot. Construction company Mace will provide 85 plinths upon which the Bee sculptures will be displayed across the city and Marketing Manchester will amplify the event through its channels.
Touching down this July for nine weeks of visually spectacular, free fun and creativity, this ambitious event will see up to 85 individually designed, 2m high 3-D Bee sculptures displayed across Manchester’s streets, parks and public spaces. The trail is expected to attract over one million visitors. A Learning Programme will give children and young people the chance to explore their city through creative endeavour. They will design over 100 smaller Bee sculptures to take pride of place inside various high-footfall venues.
Helen Ridge, Head of Manchester Office, Pinsent Masons said: “Pinsent Masons is delighted to support Bee in the City as a sponsor and we can’t wait to choose our bee design in April. It’s exciting to be associated with such an inclusive, fun and family-friendly event. We see this as an unprecedented creative opportunity to raise our profile, promote our brand values and support our long-term commitment to inspiring young lives in our local communities.”
Bee in the City’s event producer Wild in Art, backed by Manchester City Council, is connecting corporate, public and community partners with the creative sector. Professional and as yet undiscovered, regional artists will create the visual WOW factor with their imaginative Bee designs and artistic techniques. Organisations who sign-up will associate their brand with a hugely popular event that will boost business impacts, tourism visits and community pride in the city. Sponsor, Partner and Supporter packages come with impressive benefits including the ability to be able to offer rewards via the trail’s app, there are exciting opportunities for creative and even surprising collaborations during the project’s lifecycle.
Sir Richard Leese CBE – Leader, Manchester City Council said: “It’s fantastic that so many national and local businesses are supporting Bee in the City this summer. We’re confident that it will be one of the most spectacular public art events the city has ever seen. I would urge you to get involved, and bring your friends and families to Manchester to follow the trail and enjoy this incredibly accessible event.”
All those who join Bee in the City will ultimately support The Lord Mayor of Manchester’s We Love MCR Charity which aims to improve the lives of local residents, helping them to reach their full potential.
There’s still time for companies to dip their wings in the honey pot, and organisers are urging those who are interested to get in touch as soon as possible to secure their involvement and maximise their return on investment. Sally-Ann Wilkinson, Director of Wild in Art said: “It’s important that Bee in the City celebrates everything that makes Manchester so characterful, including its businesses, organisations, communities and individuals. This event is created for and by Manchester and we are thrilled that the business community is both understanding and embracing its unique promotional potential.”
