Big Ben has quit Westminster and come to Manchester – to give itself to us, the people. Created by artist Marta Minujín for MIF21, this huge sculpture is covered in 20,000 copies of books that have shaped British politics. 

For the final weekend of Manchester International Festival if you visit this weekend, you can take a book for free.

The 160 different books covering Big Ben tell an electrifying story about the British people – from Thomas Paine’s Rights of Man, written in 1791, to Marcus Rashford’sYou Are a Champion, published this year.

Discover the full list of books online at bigben.mif.co.uk/explore/reading-list, then join us this weekend to take a book for free.

‘By taking a book, people create the artwork. The people of Manchester will create a new Big Ben that the UK will never forget.’– Marta Minujín

Piccadilly Gardens, M1 1AF
Fri 16 July, noon-10pm
Sat 17 July, 10am-10pm
Sun 18 July, 10am-10pm

FREE Tickets not required – just turn up on the day