Notting Hill carnival should receive Whitehall funding to ensure a return next year because its performers are struggling financially after two consecutive cancellations, its executive director has said. As the bank holiday celebration enters its 55th year this weekend, Matthew Phillip said it should be regarded as a crucial asset to the UK’s economy and cultural landscape. The street festival will be moved online for a second year running after it was cancelled as a result of the pandemic. “We’re really looking for help on a larger scale, from now until the end of the year, so that we can ensure that carnival comes back,” he said. “We haven’t had any support from central government. “That’d be very crucial. Carnival is a very important part of the UK economy and it would be nice to have that recognised. And for the people who tirelessly put on carnival for many years, it would be nice for them to have some recognition in this difficult time.” Phillip also urged the public to donate to Notting Hill carnival fund, which was launched to support bands and artists who would struggle to perform without financial assistance. “The uncertainty of the last 16 to 18 months means we need to give [the bands] some financial support so that we can come back on the streets in 2022, very strong artistically. It takes a lot of money and time to put on carnival. It’s not something that can just happen overnight,” he said. Like many in the arts sector, the mas bands and artists have been hit “very bad financially by the pandemic”, he explained. The carnival has had good support from the mayor of London, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster city council, but Phillip said he was looking for central government support to keep the carnival going. “For over 50 years, the community has put on this wonderful event that annually is a boost to the UK economy. It is a vital part of the UK landscape. Many people love it and want to see it return,” he said. The government previously gave £250,000 to the Carnival Village Trust from its £2bn culture recovery fund – a separate entity to Notting Hill Carnival Limited, which organises the carnival. This funding was used to support two venues which were forced to close during the last lockdown. Organisers decided in June to take the event off the streets , and a number of events and performances will be broadcast onthe carnival’s YouTube account throughout the bank holiday weekend instead. Revellers have also been invited to watch the National Panorama Steelband Competition at Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park, as well as Carnival Culture In The Park, which includes three ticketed Caribbean music shows, in Holland Park. A Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport spokesperson said: “As the biggest street festival in Europe, Notting Hill carnival is a landmark cultural event and a hugely important celebration of our nation’s diversity. “Our unprecedented £2bn culture recovery fund has been a lifeline to arts and culture organisations throughout the pandemic and we have provided Carnival Village Trust – which supports the Notting Hill Carnival – £250,000 from the fund.”