Great Yarmouth intends to register its interest to be in the running for the UK Town of Culture 2028 contest.

The winner of the inaugural competition will receive a £3 million prize.

Great Yarmouth seafront. (Image: Newsquest)

A spokesman for Great Yarmouth Borough Council (GYBC) said: "Great Yarmouth Borough Council is planning to submit an expression of interest to the government later this month for its UK Town of Culture 2028 competition.

"If shortlisted, the town would then be invited to develop a full bid.

"The competition is an exciting opportunity for Great Yarmouth to bid for £3m of government investment to deliver an ambitious and wide-ranging cultural programme.

Great Yarmouth seafront. (Image: Denise Bradley)

"This is a unique opportunity for Great Yarmouth to celebrate its cultural identity and demonstrate how culture can support regeneration, community cohesion, pride in place and economic growth linked closely to its wider regeneration and economic strategies."

It comes after Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft's failed 2021 joint bid to be named UK City of Culture 2025.

The government announced the creation of the first-ever UK Town of Culture competition in January.

The deadline for towns to submit expressions of interest is March 31.

Great Yarmouth Town Hall. (Image: Denise Bradley)

The strongest bids will progress to a shortlist, where each shortlisted town will receive £60,000 to help deliver their full bids for the competition.

Three finalists - one small, one medium and one large town - will be chosen, with the two runners-up receiving £250,000 to deliver elements of their bid.

GYBC has said its concept will build on three themes reflecting Great Yarmouth's character and future opportunities.

The Great Yarmouth Eye on the seafront. (Image: Newsquest)

It wants to celebrate the town's people, stories and seaside identity, and showcase its cultural heritage assets.

In addition, it wants to explore the town's connection to the sea and look towards the future need for climate resilience and opportunities with offshore energy.

It means Great Yarmouth will have to fight off competition from Lowestoft and a joint bid from Cromer and Sheringham to win the Town of Culture contest.

© Eastern Daily Press