Investing in LGBTQ+ heritage

Heritage has a crucial role to play in contributing to a flourishing, more equitable and inclusive society.

That's why inclusion, access and participation is one of the four investment principles that guide our grant decision making.

Since 1994 we've invested over £12million across the UK in sharing stories of LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other identities) heritage, creativity, activism and much more.

If you've got an idea for a project, we'd love to hear from you.

The terms we use

At The National Lottery Heritage Fund, we use the acronym LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer). The ‘+’ represents people who identify as non-binary, intersex, asexual and other identities.

We use these acronyms 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.

Blogs

A space in the archives for LGBTQ+ heritage

Dr Alan Butler tells us how the Plymouth LGBT+ Archive has captured important stories and continues to evolve as an active part of the community.

23/02/2021

A national Welsh flag with rainbow background.

A Welsh flag with rainbow background from the Amgueddfa Cymru–National Museum Wales collection

Projects

Hands on Heritage

The Hands on Heritage project at Amgueddfa Cymru–National Museum Wales’ enabled young people from diverse backgrounds to have an impact on the collections.

28/06/2017

©Shibden Hall

News

Follow in the footsteps of ‘Gentleman Jack’ in Edinburgh

People will be able to explore the LGBT+ history and culture of Edinburgh through a new walking tour following in the footsteps of diarist and world traveller, Anne Lister - whose life was depicted in the popular BBC series, Gentleman Jack.

22/02/2021

Projects

LGBTQ+ history in Llanelli

Llanelli LGBTQ+ Support have held events and activities to recognise and share the rich heritage of the town's LGBT+ community.

17/12/2019

A young Shaper/Caper dancer

Projects

Here Me out: exploring Dundee’s young LGBTQ+ heritage

Youth dance organisation, Shaper/Caper is exploring the LGBTQ+ heritage and culture of Dundee in an oral history project, Here Me Out.

07/10/2019

A panoramic gallery view of the Pitt Rivers Museum

Projects

Beyond the Binary: Queering collections at the Pitt Rivers Museum

The University of Oxford’s Pitt Rivers Museum has collaborated with partners to reinterpret its collections from an LGBT+ perspective.

18/09/2018

Performers in servants' attire at Duckie’s Lady Malcolm’s Servants’ Ball

Duckie’s Lady Malcolm’s Servants’ Ball at Bishopsgate Institute. Credit: Holly Revell

Projects

Re-enacting the 100-year-old Lady Malcolm's Servants' Ball

A collective of performance artists re-enacted Lady Malcolm’s Servants’ Ball; a firm fixture of the queer scene in London almost a century ago.

10/12/2014

Chester Pride

Projects

Celebrating Cheshire's LGBT History

Body Positive has recorded and digitised the memories of the LGBT+ community in Cheshire, saving their legacy for future generations.

02/08/2017

Stories

Conserving stories of Northern Ireland’s LGBTQ+ heritage

Richard O'Leary, project co-ordinator for The Troubles I’ve Seen, tells us how the project is going, how it has adapted during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and offers some advice.

Museum of Oxford's Queering Spires exhibiton. Display post it notes with comments and memories from visitors.

Stories

Case study: Queering Spires - a history of LGBTIQA+ spaces in Oxford

The organisation The Museum of Oxford is dedicated to telling the story of Oxford and its people. The project The temporary exhibition, Queering Spires aimed to tell the untold stories of hidden queer spaces in the city of Oxford. The local authority-run museum wanted to focus on the principles of a