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.
Projects
Write Here, Write Now', Birmingham
The Birmingham Pen Museum has been expanded, with a new activity space to help bring its unique heritage to life for future generations.
Projects
Last Post: Remembering The First World War
This project focused on increasing access to First World War archival material held in The British Postal Museum and Archive.
Projects
Armagh Observatory - Telescopes and Domes
Armagh Observatory is the oldest working observatory in the UK, it houses a unique collection of historic instruments and archives.
![Huntingdonshire’s Heritage: The Norris Museum development project The Norris Museum](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/pressnews/hg-13-07761_norrismuseum1a.jpg.webp?itok=YjFeHfu9)
Projects
Huntingdonshire’s Heritage: The Norris Museum development project
The Norris Museum, home to a treasured collection of artefacts relating to the history of Huntingdonshire, has been restored.
![Bristol Aerospace Centre Bristol Aerospace Centre](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/pressnews/hg-12-09808_concordenose.jpg.webp?itok=QHe1v7wt)
Projects
Bristol Aerospace Centre
Providing a rare insight into the history of British aviation at Filton, the Bristol Aerospace Centre project tells the story of one of the birthplaces of aviation in Britain.
Projects
Aspire (Constable 'Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows')
Our grant helped secure John Constable’s Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows for the nation.
![Dylan Thomas Exhibition The Dylan Thomas Centre](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/projects/hg-12-05367_dtcblueskywithclouds.jpg.webp?itok=1yqzvCVk)
Projects
Dylan Thomas Exhibition
The City and County of Swansea (CCS) celebrate the centenary of Dylan Thomas’ birth through the redevelopment of the Dylan Thomas Centre.
Projects
Lindisfarne Gospels Durham, 2013 and beyond
This project was to host the Lindisfarne Gospels and St Cuthbert Gospel at Palace Green Library in Durham.
Projects
Childhood at Osborne
Families are now able to step back into the world of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s children at Osborne on the Isle of Wight.
![Volunteer at the Hands on Here exhibition at York Castle Museum Volunteer at the Hands on Here exhibition at York Castle Museum](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/projects/hg-11-00741_hands_on_here_volunteer.jpg.webp?itok=Sb4sgngs)
Projects
Marking the First World War Centenary at York Castle Museum
The York Museums and Gallery Trust transformed the upper floors of a Grade I listed prison building into exhibition space and introduced an ambitious four year programme about the First World War.
Projects
The Staffordshire Hoard Gallery
Public interest in the Staffordshire Hoard has been unprecedented. A temporary display at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery attracted more than half a million visitors in 12 months.
![Children viewing First World War objects at a Green Howards Museum outreach event Children viewing First World War objects at a Green Howards Museum outreach event](/sites/default/files/styles/hlf_xlarge/public/media/projects/greenhoward3.jpg.webp?itok=Dewrqd19)
Projects
Redeveloping the Green Howards Museum
The Green Howards Regimental museum received almost £1million to redevelop its galleries and put on a series of family activities.