The future of Oxford’s Cowley Road Carnival is in doubt after a reported £20,000 shortfall in funding hitting finances, which the event’s chairman described as “dicey”.
The carnival, which has not taken place for four years, is Oxfordshire’s biggest free public event and sees up to 50,000 people filling the streets of East Oxford for a colourful procession, live music on multiple stages, DJ performances, dance and to enjoy international food and drink.
With the Covid lockdowns having hit the event, it had been hoped the street party would return this year with a bumper event.
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This year the carnival’s theme is ‘Our Nature Our Future’ and the plans for Sunday, July 9 include a spectacular parade with costumed performers, dancers, musicians and floats
However, the chairman of the carnival, Aidan Larkin, fears that without urgent funding, the event may not take place – and he appealed to the public for their support in helping pull off “one of the most magical events Oxford has seen for years”.
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The charity Cowley Road Works, which organises the event, says bringing together 1,000 artists and 700 procession participants will cost £130,000. It has launched a Just Giving Page to help it reach the target.
Donations have already topped almost £1,500.
Mr Larkin – who performs as a DJ under the name Count Skylarkin – blamed a lack of support from the Arts Council England and reduced funding from Oxford City Council, which has left the team with insufficient money to go ahead with the event.
He said: “The council is feeling the pinch like lots of councils and households across the country. They committed to a lower figure this year.
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“This is understandable because we have not hosted a carnival for four years so they may have thought it was not going to happen.”
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Mr Larkin said the carnival’s managing committee has raised enough money to host the event itself but still desperately needed money to pay for infrastructure before the festivities begin.
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The carnival committee has until the end of next week to raise much needed money and Mr Larkin appealed to the public to keep the carnival’s plans alive.
He said: “It would be reckless to plough on without taking some action and appealing for help.
An Oxford City spokesman said: “We were very disappointed to hear that the Arts Council had refused the carnival’s application for funding.
“We have guaranteed to support the carnival with an annual grant of £7,000 over the next three years and hope that this wonderful event will have a secure future.”
An Arts Council England spokesperson said: “Between 2016 and 2020 we invested £281,886 in Cowley Road Carnival. Our funding programmes have a high level of competition for funds and we recognise this is disappointing for some applicants, but we are unable to support all of the good applications we receive.”
Any donations towards the carnival can be made via their JustGiving page.
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