Today, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) launches a three month consultation inviting views on the future of Lottery funding for heritage to help shape its strategy from 2013 to 2019.  

Within the consultation, HLF is setting out proposals on a wide range of key heritage issues. It offers people the opportunity to consider what HLF’s priorities should be, what it should continue doing and what it should do differently, particularly as other sources of public investment become increasingly scarce.

The welcome news is that between 2013 and 2019, HLF expects to have a significantly increased annual awards budget of around £300m, as a result of an increased share of Lottery good cause income for heritage*.

The consultation questionnaire runs until 26 April 2011. 

In addition to the online consultation, HLF will be gathering together representatives from heritage and community organisations to gain views on HLF’s funding priorities and a wide range of other issues associated with HLF’s broad heritage remit - from meeting the challenges of climate change, to exploiting the opportunities offered by digital media and addressing the shortages in heritage skills. Local events around the UK and a targeted media campaign will also help to capture more personal and local views and ideas for the future.

Dame Jenny Abramsky, Chair of HLF, said: “This is a great opportunity for us to learn how our funding can best help with the challenges ahead. We can only devise the very best strategy by listening closely to the partners, funders, organisations and individuals who are involved in and enthusiastic about the UK’s heritage.”

“These are turbulent times and heritage organisations across the UK are facing both challenges and opportunities. We know that heritage can play an important role in economic recovery and the future of the nation and we will have significantly more money to invest than has been available in recent years – we need to make sure we make the most of it.”

Last year, HLF announced a higher budget for future years due to the increase in the share of Lottery funding available for heritage and continuing healthy ticket sales. HLF’s Board of Trustees also agreed changes to its procedures making it easier for applicants to secure funding during difficult economic times by being more flexible about partnership funding and providing additional support for major transformational projects (HLF grants of £5m and over) and targeted programmes in 2011.

Dame Jenny Abramsky continued: “In future, heritage organisations will need to become even more deeply rooted locally, sustained by a combination of volunteering, local ownership, and income generation – alongside continued public investment and private philanthropy. HLF wants to encourage this to build a strong and resilient heritage sector for the future. This is the chance to shape that future.”

HLF will publish its strategy for 2013-2019 in spring 2012.

Notes to editors

* The motion that the Apportionment of Money in the National Lottery Distribution Fund Order 2010 be approved was agreed by the House of Lords on 23 November 2010.  It stated that from 1 April 2011, the shares for the arts, heritage and sport will increase from the current 16.66 % to 18%, with the Big Lottery Fund going from 50% to 46%; and on 1 April 2012, the arts, heritage and sport will each go to 20%, with the Big Lottery Fund moving to 40%. This means an additional £50m for the heritage.

Shaping the future – for heritage, for everyone
Have your say – HLF’s three-month consultation on the future of Lottery funding for heritage is now live on the HLF website. To view the consultation video and to respond, please visit the consultation page until 26 April 2011. 

There are two questionnaires available online. If you work within the heritage sector or community organisations in a professional capacity and would like to contribute to the full consultation, please fill in longer questionnaire. If you are a member of the public and wish to express your personal views on HLF funding in the future, please fill in the less detailed public questionnaire

Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. HLF has supported more than 30,000 projects allocating £4.5billion across the UK.

Further information

Katie Owen or Alison Scott, HLF Press Office on 020 7591 6036 / 6032. Out of hours mobile on 07973 613820.