Museums, libraries and archives
Museums, libraries and archives tell the stories of our cultural heritage.
Through objects, collections, film, documents and oral histories they help to give us a sense of place and identity.
Thanks to National Lottery players, since 1994 we have awarded £2.4billion to 5,900 museum, library, archive and collection-based projects across the UK.
What do we support?
Our funding supports institutions large and small, including:
- national and local authority museums, libraries and archives
- historic libraries
- community archives
- institutions with heritage collections
Project ideas
Our funding could help people:
- create exciting new exhibition and learning spaces
- attract more diverse audiences
- interpret and open up acquisitions
- develop collections
For more inspiration, see the stories below or browse projects we've funded.
How to get funding
Our National Lottery Heritage Grants programme is open for applications.
Stories
Four artists on how heritage has inspired them
As the Luminary installation opens at the National Lottery-funded Crossness Pumping Station, we spoke to four artists who combine old and new in their work.
Blogs
Why communities are essential to sharing the stories of Pride
These significant and inclusive events raise the profile of all sorts of LGBT+ lived experiences, celebrate activism and build stronger alliances. They increasingly involve people of all ages, cultures and faiths in publicly sharing differing identities. Alongside Stonewall’s 50th anniversary this
News
Million insects saved as part of £8million of National Lottery funding
A million bugs Oxford University Museum of Natural History’s British Insect Collection has over a million specimens from the 18th century to today, including some that are now extinct. Spanning nearly the entire history of British entomology, the collection is vital in understating the extent and
News
National Lottery funding for three volunteer-led projects in Scotland
Three new projects in Scotland, with volunteering at their heart, have secured significant support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
News
Blackpool’s first museum leads the way in heritage-led regeneration
A new museum for Blackpool has been awarded a £4million National Lottery Heritage Fund grant as part of a £10m package of grants, giving heritage-led regeneration and tourism a boost across the North.
News
Launch of £100million Heritage Horizon Awards
We will invest £100million over the next three years in ambitious, innovative and transformational projects that will revolutionise UK heritage.
News
Six stories for London History Day
It’s London History Day. Here are six of our favourite heritage stories from the city, all supported by the National Lottery.
News
Black Country Living Museum to build historic new town
Thanks to £9.4million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Black Country Living Museum will undergo a huge transformation to share stories of life in the 1940-60s.
News
Seven days to celebrate #MuseumWeek 2019
We're getting involved with Museum Week's seven themes over seven days using seven hashtags. To celebrate, we're sharing one fantastic National Lottery Heritage Fund-supported museum every day.
Stories
Changing lives: St Fagan's course helps Tom beat anxiety
Tilly the dog helps Tom Jenkin tackle his anxiety. But it was a National Lottery-funded lambing course which gave him the confidence to aim for a career as a vet.
News
Museum of the Year 2019 finalists announced
The finalists battling it out to be named Art Fund's Museum of the Year have been revealed. Four of the five shortlisted Museums are National Lottery-funded.