Mossley all a buzz as bees set for Barcelona

Mossley is positively buzzing with excitement as two homegrown giant bee puppets are set to fly the flag for Greater Manchester at one of Europe’s most dazzling street festivals.

Crafted with care and creativity at The Vale arts centre, the majestic puppets are bound for La Mercè, Barcelona’s biggest annual celebration, where Manchester has been honoured as this year’s guest city. Following last year’s spotlight on Casablanca, the invitation marks a major international moment for the region - and Mossley is at its heart.

The impressive project is a collaboration between The Vale’s resident Carnival arts organisation, Global Grooves, and two of Catalonia’s most celebrated giant puppet makers. Their mission is to design and build two extraordinary bee puppets that not only dazzle onlookers but also embody the spirit and story of Greater Manchester.

The towering Queen Bee is not only a visual marvel, but a kinetic masterpiece. She transforms into a maypole mid-performance, her radiant ribbons set to be grasped and danced by a talented troupe from Oldham. Her costume tells a deeper tale: adorned with hand-printed fabrics, she weaves together symbols of Greater Manchester’s multicultural communities and its cotton-spun industrial heritage.

Buzzing close behind will be the magnificent Worker Bee, stretching 4 metres in length and dressed in vibrant, fibreglass-encased hand-painted silks. The effect glows like stained glass, while copper-clad legs and cog detailing nod proudly to the textile mills that powered both Manchester and Barcelona through the Industrial Revolution.

Sustainability and craft were central to the bees’ creation. Wood, clay, plaster, recycled cogs, fibreglass and fabric - all thoughtfully chosen - went into sculpting these pollinators of culture and creativity.

With thousands expected to descend on Barcelona for La Mercè this September, these Mossley-born bees will help pollinate Manchester’s rich story onto the international stage.

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.

Angela Chappell, Arts Council England and Cllr Feeley, Tameside MBC drop into The Vale to see how work is progressing on the Mossley bees that are heading to Barcelona.