Bath Carnival is on a knife edge between “disappearing or blossoming into the crowning jewel for the city.”

The annual event attracts 30,000 spectators and is the culmination of months of

engagement with often hard to reach, disadvantaged groups.

Organiser, Stu Matson, said cuts to Arts funding put that at risk, but it should be recognised as one of the few inclusive occasions that brings all walks of life together.

He said: “What would be the cultural cost of losing the Carnival if we don’t have the funds to do it? It’s becoming ingrained in the identity of Bath.

“The city deserves one day of the year where everybody comes together and celebrates. Our costs for the upcoming year are just under £100,000. If our Arts Council bid is successful, we will be just under half way.

“Every single volunteer, artist and industry professional that commits to another year is doing so in the knowledge that it is not 100 per cent until we reach the finish line. That’s a horrible position to be in.

“Are we going to tackle the issues or just watch another Arts organisation disappear, or another free event become ticketed? Even a pound would be too much for some people.”

One group that has been able to get money out of the Council is Bath Festivals. The organisers applied for a loan and were awarded a £75,000 grant to help it become sustainable – on the proviso that it widens its audience.

Ian Stockley, Chief Executive of Bath Festivals, said: “Funding has been a challenge faced by the festival since it began in 1947. As an arts charity, we rely on the support of sponsors, trusts and patrons. Growing ticket sales is also vital.

“Transitioning to the wider appealing large-scale community-based combined Arts

Festival in May without this one-off grant would have taken longer.”

S. Sumner, LDRS