A popular cultural event that has infused the Forks with music and dance since 2006 is in jeopardy.

Salsa Sundays is a live music and dance event that attracts crowds of more than 500 people to the normally slow Sunday nights at the Forks. For the second time in two years, it's at risk of being cancelled due to a lack of funding.

It had been backed by the Forks and the Casinos of Winnipeg for six years, but funding was redirected. When the Casinos of Winnipeg started funding the Barge Festival in 2011, the Forks events staff backed Salsa Sundays without a title sponsor.

In May 2012, Susan Reid, former events coordinator at the Forks said in an email to Salsa Sunday producer Leonardo Lopez that the well received event was "gaining momentum," and that the Forks would continue to support it.

However in May 2013, Lopez was informed that the Forks was no longer in a position to fund Salsa Sundays.

Lopez, of LM Image and Event Productions, personally funded the 2013 Salsa Sundays series on his own, with a few donations. The Forks ceased funding just six weeks prior to the event start, leaving coordinators with little time to fundraise.

"It was surprising"¦ We had been told they enjoy it, the vendors enjoy it, people that work there say they get so much business," said Salsa Sundays production coordinator Valeria Chartier. "It's great live music and dance and a cultural showcase anyone can walk up to without a ticket.

"I've had people telling me they can't believe it might not happen." But that's the situation. Chartier has spearheaded a fundraising campaign for the $10 thousand needed to put the event on for summer 2014. If they fall short, they will either cancel Salsa Sundays, or drastically downscale.

"We have a meeting scheduled with the new events coordinator at the Forks in May to discuss details," said Chartier.

"We want to raise a good amount of the money by then because that's when the final contract needs to be signed." Salsa Sundays set up their Facebook page and Paypal account on April 9, and they are accepting donations until May.

wpgsun.citydesk@sunmedia.ca