Key Points:
- Hackney Council has withdrawn funding for Hackney Carnival “for the foreseeable future” due to severe budget constraints.
- The £500,000 previously set aside for the event has been slashed to prioritise essential frontline services.
- Hackney Carnival has been a borough tradition since the 1970s and was scaled back to a biennial event in 2023 due to financial pressures.
- Carnival funding had primarily come from the neighbourhood community interest levy (NCIL), but this revenue has been redirected for other spending.
- The carnival’s budget grew by almost 75% between 2018 and 2024, making it harder to sustain.
- Cllr Chris Kennedy cited the council’s inability to maintain such investment but promised efforts to secure alternative funding.
- Stakeholder groups warn that the decision will have “far-reaching consequences” for arts organisations and future generations.
- Proposals for a trust model or sponsorship to finance the carnival are under consideration.
Why Has Hackney Council Withdrawn Funding for Hackney Carnival?
Hackney Council has withdrawn funding for Hackney Carnival in response to its pressing financial challenges. The council announced that the £500,000 set aside for the event has been cut as part of efforts to prioritise essential services, which are currently “severely stretched.”
Cllr Chris Kennedy, Hackney’s Cabinet Member for Culture, said, “We know how much carnival means to so many people in Hackney. However, as a fully council-funded event, we sadly cannot commit the significant investment that it requires in our budget for future years.”
What Is the History of Hackney Carnival?
Hackney Carnival, often dubbed the “last leg of Notting Hill,” has been a borough tradition since the 1970s. The event, a major cultural highlight for Hackney residents, had already faced cutbacks in recent years. In 2023, the council scaled it back from an annual to a biennial event due to financial constraints.
The carnival brought an estimated £3.24 million in gross value to the borough in 2022, highlighting its economic and cultural significance. However, the event’s growing budget—reaching £1 million in 2024—has made it increasingly difficult to sustain under the council’s current financial pressures.
How Has the Budget Been Reallocated?
Previously funded through neighbourhood community interest levy (NCIL) revenue, carnival funds have now been redirected to cover other day-to-day spending. Two-thirds of the carnival’s budget in recent years was allocated to infrastructure costs, leaving limited funds for carnival groups.
Cllr Kennedy stated, “Put bluntly, we can’t put aside the money every year for Carnival.” He added that while funding for the full event has been withdrawn, £70,000 has been earmarked from NCIL for similar arts activities in the borough over 2025/26.
What Are Stakeholder Groups Saying?
Arts groups involved in the carnival, such as Tropical Isles, Pantonic, and Para Carnival, have expressed concerns about the decision’s impact.
- Para Carnival’s Bettina Fernandez criticised the allocation of funds, stating that “outrageously” only 6% of the carnival’s 2024 budget went to carnival groups.
- Tropical Isles’ Marva Antoine warned that the withdrawal of funding would harm future generations, adding that groups like hers struggle to secure match funding without Hackney Carnival as a reference point.
Stakeholders are calling for a more structured approach to financing, including exploring sponsorship opportunities or establishing a trust model similar to those used by Notting Hill Carnival or Hackney Empire.
What Are the Council’s Plans for the Carnival’s Future?
Despite withdrawing funding, Hackney Council has expressed its commitment to preserving the spirit of the carnival.
Cllr Kennedy stated, “We want to preserve hope and joy. In a way, this – the place we’re in now – is the beginning of the future of Hackney Carnival. There is adaptability and ingenuity built into it. We’ll come up with something.”
The council is exploring options such as third-party sponsorship and advertising revenue to support future iterations of the carnival. Cllr Kennedy also suggested that a trust model could enable access to funding streams unavailable to the council, citing the successful “Warm Shores” Windrush sculptures project as an example.
What Is the Reaction from the Community?
The decision has been met with disappointment by both residents and arts groups, who highlight the carnival’s cultural and economic significance. Stakeholders are urging the council to adopt innovative solutions to ensure the event’s continuation.
As discussions continue, the future of Hackney Carnival remains uncertain, with doubts over whether it will return in 2026. The council’s next steps will determine whether Hackney’s cherished tradition can adapt and thrive despite the economic challenges it faces.
