Museums, libraries and archives
![Black Cultural Archives. Credit: Kois Miah A person handles large parchment documents in an archive room, with shelves of archive boxes in the background](/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_desktop/public/media/imgs/Raleigh%20Hall%20development%20for%20Black%20Cultural%20Archives%20-%20Black%20Cultural%20Archives%202%20copy.jpg.webp?itok=dKXj4Ndc)
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.
![CreweCraft: Young Roots Crafting Crewe's Heritage in Minecraft Young people in Crewe connected with the heritage of their town using digital gaming](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/projects/crewecraft_photo.jpg.webp?itok=xxyfT4_f)
Projects
CreweCraft: Young Roots Crafting Crewe's Heritage in Minecraft
Young people in Crewe connected with the heritage of their town using digital gaming.
Projects
Exploring visual impairment in Newcastle
Visually impaired volunteers investigated the 150-year-old history of their society to learn more about blind heritage in the North East
![In Her Footsteps Participants dressed up as suffragettes during a project event](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/projects/first_step.jpg.webp?itok=zIfoy5dF)
Projects
In her footsteps: discovering Suffragettes in the North East
Women who live in the North East explore their region's incredible connection to the First World War and Suffrage movement.
Projects
'Reimagining Wordsworth': the Wordsworth Trust masterplan
The Wordsworth Trust will co-ordinate the transformation of the literary heritage site at Dove Cottage in the Lake District.
Projects
Conservation and display of the Centenary Banner of Downham Benevolent Society (1785 to 1913)
Preserving part of Lancashire’s heritage for the benefit of future generations.
Projects
Manchester Link to West African textiles through ABC wax prints
The project will identify and record, interpret and explain the history of West African textiles designed and produced by ABC Wax in Manchester from 1900’s until the present day.
Projects
A history of Newport CC & the historic Rodney parade ground
A History of Newport Cricket Club and the historic Rodney Parade Ground project shared the history of a locally important County Cricket ground.
Projects
Cardiff Remembers/Caerdydd yn Cofio
The Firing Line Museum, located in Cardiff Castle are running a project focusing on collections connected to the First World War held by project partners, Cardiff Story Museum, Glamorgan Archives, Western Front Association and Cardiff University.
Projects
Write into the Future - Steps to Sustainability for The Pen Museum
At a time of financial uncertainty, the Birmingham Pen Trade Heritage Association received a grant to help plan for a sustainable future.
![Creating a pictorial historical record of South East Essex - "All Our Stories" Volunteers from the Hadleigh and Thundersley Community Archive Group examine a walking map](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/thunder_2.jpg.webp?itok=NsWKxRgo)
Projects
Creating a pictorial historical record of South East Essex
Volunteers explored and shared nine decades of history through Hadleigh and Thundersley Community Archive’s All Our Stories project.
Projects
Ceredigion Museum - New Approaches
Ceredigion Museum has reopened, following a project to transform its operations, resilience and sustainability.
Projects
Comic Creators
The Comic Creators project helped the London-based charity to diversify its audience by expanding its collections and events programme.