Museums, libraries and archives

Museums, libraries and archives

A person handles large parchment documents in an archive room, with shelves of archive boxes in the background
Black Cultural Archives. Credit: Kois Miah
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. See stories from projects we've funded below.

We provide grants for heritage projects from £10,000–£10million to ensure that heritage is valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future.

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.

Leaflets, booklets and other content created for the project
Leaflets, booklets and other content created for the project

Projects

Hidden voices: uncovering Reading's LGBT heritage

The project explored the heritage of Reading's LGBT community and created an archive of historic and recent stories to preserve them for future generations.

Ashmolean Museum

Projects

Ashmolean Plan

A new extension was added to the museum’s Grade I-listed Cockerell building, providing conservation and teaching facilities, and expanding education and outreach services.

The Lightbox, Woking
The Lightbox, Woking

Projects

Woking Museum Arts & Crafts Centre

Woking Museum Arts and Craft Centre, now known as The Lightbox, was conceived by a local community group in 1993 to establish a museum of Woking’s local and social history.

Outside view of the New Shetland Museum & Archives
Outside view of the New Shetland Museum & Archives

Projects

New Shetland Museum & Archives

Part of Lerwick’s original waterfront was transformed into an environmentally-conscious heritage attraction using sustainable materials and traditional craftsmanship.

Visitors at Kelvingrove Art Galleryand Museum

Projects

Kelvingrove New Century Project

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum has undergone major refurbishment to relaunch the site as a world-class facility.

People in New Devon Record Office

Projects

New Devon Record Office

The Devon Record Office holds judicial, administrative and ecclesiastical records from 11th century to the 20th century.

Young people in First World War historical costume
The cast of the play celebrate their achievements

Projects

Working The War

A group of young people researched the personal stories of families who worked in the local torpedo factory during the First World War.

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