Manchester International Festival 2021 blends radical politics with community programming across multiple venues

The Manchester International Festival 2021 concluded on July 18, highlighting themes of diversity and accessibility through a majority of complimentary events. Community members organized discussions to foster local involvement. A striking 42-meter sculpture by Marta Minujín, titled 'Big Ben Lying Down With Political Books,' was displayed in Piccadilly Gardens, offering 20,000 politically relevant books for free. At HOME, Swiss curator Hans Ulrich Obrist and poet Lemn Sissay collaborated on 'Poet Slash Artist,' featuring 25 artists. Deborah Warner's installation 'Arcadia' was showcased at The Factory, while Laure Prouvost's 'The long, waited, weighted gathering' appeared at the Manchester Jewish Museum. Forensic Architecture's 'Cloud Studies' at The Whitworth tackled air pollution, alongside 'A Useful Pursuit of Shadows.' Additional highlights included Cephas Williams' 'Portrait of Black Britain' and Tai Shani's 'The Neon Hieroglyph.' Festival Square provided free performances with COVID-19 safety measures in place.