Norfolk schools are being encouraged to take part in this year's Young Norfolk Arts Festival.

The festival is a varied arts platform, offering unique artistic and cultural opportunities to young people.

Events will take place across the county and start after the end of the academic year, avoiding a clash with summer exams.

Now young people are being offered the chance to perform, help organise and watch an exciting programme of events, including opportunities in drama, art, classical and contemporary music, as well as dance.

Festival organisers aim to profile the best cultural opportunities available to young people across Norfolk, while offering them a variety of platforms to showcase their talents to a range of audiences.

By bringing young people from diverse back grounds together, the festival will also enable young people to develop educational and life skills through participation in unique creative activities.

Schools across the county are getting involved with the festival by signing up to participate in a range of activities, open to children of all ages.

The festival also has the Norwich Puppet Theatre and a range of other venues available for schools and colleges to hire out.

For those working towards their Arts Awards (a qualification which inspires young people to take part in the arts) the festival offers them a wide range of chances to achieve their goals.

The vast majority of opportunities are free and those which do come with a small cost are marked.

To get involved, contact Lucy Farrant, Young Norfolk Arts Festival coordinator, by emailing enquiries@ynaf.org.uk.

Further information about the Young Norfolk Arts Festival is available at www.ynaf.org.uk.