A Manchester tattoo artist has launched a fundraising appeal in the wake of the devastating terror attacks at last night’s Ariana Grande concert.
Sam Barber has vowed to open up her Stalybridge, Manchester tattoo shop all day on Sunday to offer Mancunians bee tattoos for £50. All the proceeds will go to the families of the victims of the Manchester Arena terror attack.
The attack occurred at 10:35pm on Monday 22 May and has claimed the lives of 22 people, including eight-year-old Saffie Rose Roussos and 18-year-old Georgina Callandar. The injured totals 120, among whom are countless children.
As Mancunians rally around and share acts of kindness in the face of unspeakable evil, local tattoo artists are doing their bit to make sure this attack is never forgotten, and the city’s united spirit remains.
After heeding Sam’s call, participating studios are offering permanent homages to Manchester’s resolve in the form of tiny bee tattoos.
The offer is a beautiful nod to the citywide adoption of the worker bee as a symbol of it’s industrious history and diligent, steadfast spirit.
Sam, 28, is hoping her ink will serve to strengthen the bonds this tight-knit community enjoys.
Explaining why the bee was an ‘obvious choice’, Sam told UNILAD:
You will find it printed all over the city, on bridges, pavements, lampposts, bins, buildings and even in our coat of arms, and it is now seen as a proud emblem for people of Manchester.
So it was the obvious choice for the tattoo and, of course, I will be wearing mine with pride!
The Mancunian tattoo artist said:
I woke up this morning to find out what had happened and I was in complete shock. My heart sank reading about the casualties and all those affected, I felt helpless, like ‘what can I do?!’
I was born in Manchester and have lived here my whole life, same as generations of my family. It’s a city close to my heart. We are strong and caring people here in Manchester and will prevail, if any city can get through a time like this it is ours. We will not be divided.
Sam has been ‘overwhelmed’ by the response from the tattoo community and has even been contacted by studios in Australia who want to play a part in the now-global tribute mission.
Closer to home, Manchester-born Ventnor Brewer, who manages the Chorlton tattoo studio Sacred Art told UNILAD his shop will be participating in the fundraising efforts.
Brewer explained why he’s thrilled to jump on board the campaign Sam started, saying:
It’ll be really positive for the city in the aftermath of such an horrific event. It’s easy to feel disheartened, down-trodden, negative and hopeless and I think something like this just reinstate the fact that people are good.
Brewer reacted to last night’s atrocities, recalling:
I was gutted. I was absolutely devastated watching it all unfold online. I didn’t sleep. It’s horrendous. It feels surreal that it happened in Manchester, being a place you always associate with multi-culturalism.
I wouldn’t have thought it would happen here – to my detriment and naivete. We all know somebody that knows somebody that was there. It’s absolutely heart-breaking.
Sacred Art have already been ‘inundated’ with requests on their Facebook page and Vent wants to welcome anyone and everyone who wants to get inked, adding: “Come down for good vibes, positive energy. Let’s get together, have a giggle, get tattooed and raise some money.”
Sacred Art will open their doors on Sunday from 10am to 6pm. Other participating studios include Studio IX, Nine Owls Tattoo Studio, This Mortal Coil, and Studio Inkwell in Stockport, among many more. They can be found on the Manchester Tattoo Appeal Facebook page.
For anyone who can’t attend appointments, donations to the fund will also be accepted via JustGiving.
A former emo kid who talks too much about 8Chan meme culture, the Kardashian Klan, and how her smartphone is probably killing her. Francesca is a Cardiff University Journalism Masters grad who has done words for BBC, ELLE, The Debrief, DAZED, an art magazine you’ve never heard of and a feminist zine which never went to print.