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Artist News
Ariana Grande named honorary citizen of Manchester
By Andy Malt | Published on Thursday 13 July 2017
Ariana Grande has become the first person to be made an honorary citizen of Manchester, in recognition for the benefit concert she put on shortly after the bomb attack at one of her shows in the city back in May.
As previously reported, it was proposed by Manchester City Council leader Richard Lees last month that the honour be created and bestowed upon Grande, with a vote taking place at a special meeting held yesterday. The motion was unanimously passed, giving the musician the freedom of the city.
“It would have been understandable if she never wanted to see this place again”, said Lees of Grande’s reaction to the attack. “But no – instead she, as an artist, a performer, was determined that she would not perform again until she had returned to Manchester to perform”.
He continued: “In doing so, she brought comfort to thousands, she raised millions for the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund and became the first patron of that fund”.
No plans for a formal ‘freedom of the city’ ceremony have been announced. However, planning for a permanent memorial to the victims of the attack are expected to begin in September.