The Sea Change scheme, based in Great Yarmouth, has been given £500,000 over the next three years as part of an East England Arts regeneration initiative.

Among the projects it will fund is the Orange Opera company, which will tour Norfolk and Suffolk.

Thursday's launch also marks the reopening of the town's St George's Theatre under new management.

Major force

The theatre, which has been closed for three months, has unveiled a new programme of music and theatre.

It will bring live classical music to the town, with performances by the Cambridge-based Britten Symphonia.

Stephen Page of Sea Change said the funding - part of £2 million given to the eastern region - will be used to develop events and productions, creative companies, and public arts projects.

"We hope to make the arts a major force for regeneration.

"We want to get people really geed up."