Investing in heritage of diverse ethnic communities

Investing in heritage of diverse ethnic communities

a group of people with black and white skin stand around a book of records in an archive
Dig Where You Stand, North Yorkshire. Photo: Alicia Barrett.
Heritage belongs to us all – which is why we want to help tell everyone's stories.

At The National Lottery Heritage Fund, we support all sorts of projects which explore and celebrate the heritage of diverse ethnic communities.

We want to support all communities to explore and share their heritage, enriching people’s lives and increasing the diversity of heritage workforces, leadership and audiences. That's why under our Heritage 2033 investment principles inclusion, access and participation must be part of every project we fund.

The terms we use

Some of the terms we use include:

  • diverse ethnic communities, or ethnically diverse communities. In Scotland we use MECC (minority ethnic and cultural community). We have revised our usage of the term BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic).
  • LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other identities)
  • Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. This describes a range of ethnic groups or people with nomadic ways of life who are not from a specific ethnicity.

We use these terms because we believe they are widely understood. Identities can be complex and intersectional, and we are also aware that for many these terms may feel inadequate or limiting. We keep the language we use constantly under review.

Get inspiration for your project

Explore the projects below and find out more about applying for our funding.

Practical workshop at Manchester Museum
Practical workshop at Manchester Museum

Projects

Passing on hobbies within the South Asian community

This intergenerational project engaged migrant women in sharing the hobbies they had enjoyed back home in the sixties and seventies, ensuring these pastimes weren't lost forever.

Embracing Africa festival
Taking part in the Embracing Africa Festival

Projects

Embracing Africa Project

This 12-month project collected objects and historical information that are important to people and the history of their country, ranging from objects on childbirth to marriage.

Handmade gold jewellery with red and green gemstones displayed on an intricately carved stand
Handmade gold jewellery with red and green gemstones

Projects

Panjab Connections

National Museums Scotland worked with the Glasgow Gurdwara and Sikh Sanjog to explore Sikh heritage through the history of the boy Maharaja.

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