NEW! Carnival in the Park 2009 Financial Summary

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PRESS RELEASE  - 5th November 2009

Cowley Road Carnival organisers want best event for everyone

"We hope to create the 'Best of all Worlds'" says Organisers' Chairman

 "Cowley Road Carnival is the most popular community led event in Oxfordshire, and its organising charity is exploring how to meet the huge demand this diverse event generates. Many carnival goers support having Carnival on the Cowley Road, and there are those in favour of South Park. As Cowley Road is the natural home of Carnival, the charity is considering expanding the activities on the Cowley Road while holding linked events in South Park." 

"Before we can begin to organise the Carnival, we have to figure out what we can achieve," says Paul Wolf, Chair of the Charity Trustees. "How to meet the demands of so many different participants and visitors is a challenge, as there are many interests to take into account.  We are considering the option of returning to Cowley Road and holding linked events in South Park." 

He stresses that the organisers are at the consultation stage with interested groups and have yet to make a firm plan of action:

"Initially the move to South Park in 2009 was due to lack of funding and capacity, as staging the Carnival on Cowley Road itself requires an enormous amount of resources. As a new charity we simply didn't have the funding secured in the short lead time available to us.

Carnival in the Park turned out to be very successful, attracting around 30,000 carnival-goers.  The traders who took part did very well, the schools that participated welcomed the bigger space which made the procession more visible and manageable, the music and dance stages attracted big audiences, and lots of people enjoyed the park environment."

However public opinion makes it clear that the Carnival was sorely missed on Cowley Road itself, and there is a lot of support to see it return.  "We are listening to all of the groups who have an interest in the event," he adds.  "Cowley Road traders and many residents want it back on the road, whereas school groups and families favour the park, along with traders and other groups from the wider area of East Oxford, the City and County, who also wish to take part. 

"Taking all of these interests into account, we have a vision to make the area from Cowley Road to South Park the location for Carnival in the first weekend in July.  We are looking into the idea of creating the best of all worlds."

Staging such an event requires even more funding than in any previous year, and this is a potential stumbling block for the charity.  "Cowley Road can no longer attract the regeneration funding it did several years ago, but we cannot hope to manage such an event unless it is properly resourced.  Public safety, security and wide community participation all require funding, and unfortunately you can't just provide some elements and not others.  You have to fund the whole package," adds Paul.

The charity, which is a new organisation that is focused solely on organising the Carnival, is investigating how feasible this could be and whether the necessary funding and support from the local business community and partner organisations is achievable.  The Board plans to meet and consult with local traders, residents and other interested groups, and to report on its findings before the end of the year. 

ENDS

Press contact:  Karen David, Spriggs David, 01865 512662, 07989 439291 karen@spriggsdavid.com