The museum successfully applied to the National Lottery's
Awards For All Scheme to help celebrate the bi-centenary of the death of the Cock (Denmark) Street staymaker who went on to world fame in the late 1700s.
He wrote three best-selling works of the 18th Century – Common Sense, Rights Of Man and The Age Of Reason and was a major influence in modern society.
The festival starts on November 7 and will be opened by TV and radio comedian Mark Steel.
There will be many events throughout the festival, including a debate on whether Paine was a good man or not, 18th Century music and food, while a film and CD is being made for the event.
Museum manager Basil Abbott said: "Diss has a good record for cultural projects.
"Having celebrated John Skelton and John Betjeman, Tom Paine was the obvious next one."
For further information, call the museum, 01379 650618.
The full article contains 174 words and appears in Diss Express newspaper.
