The future of Notting Hill Carnival received a significant boost on Thursday 10 September, after the London Assembly voted in favour of proposals calling for secure, multi-year funding for the event and reaffirmed that Carnival should remain in the west London community where it was founded.
The move comes as Notting Hill Carnival celebrates its 60th anniversary, marking six decades since London’s Caribbean community established what has become one of the world’s largest celebrations of Caribbean culture. The Assembly described the event as one of London’s most significant cultural occasions and an internationally recognised celebration of Caribbean creativity and diversity.
According to a statement published by London City Hall, Assembly Members believe the current year-to-year funding model creates unnecessary challenges for organisers and makes long-term planning more difficult. The motion calls for proposals that would provide sustainable funding and greater certainty for the event’s future.
Proposing the motion, Hina Bokhari OBE AM said: “Notting Hill Carnival belongs in Notting Hill. It’s time we stopped treating it as an annual problem to be managed and started treating it as the treasured national institution it is, with the long-term funding and certainty it needs to keep Londoners dancing through these streets for the next 60 years.”
The Assembly also called on the Mayor of London to commission an updated assessment of the Carnival’s economic, cultural and social value, noting that no comprehensive review has taken place in many years. Members said long-term funding would allow organisers to invest earlier in stewarding, infrastructure, crowd management and participant welfare, while also giving the police greater certainty when planning for the event.
Supporting the proposal, James Small-Edwards AM described Carnival as a defining part of London’s cultural life and a source of pride for the communities that created it. He said sustainable funding and a better understanding of the event’s value would help organisers plan effectively for years to come.
The motion further states that Notting Hill Carnival should remain in the community where it was founded and should not be relocated to central London. While the proposal does not itself provide additional funding, it represents a strong show of political support for securing the long-term future of one of the Caribbean diaspora’s most important cultural celebrations.
Source: London City Hall.
