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.

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.

A group of people standing outside the V&A Dundee building

Projects

V&A at Dundee

From the architecture of Robert Adam to the fashion of Bill Gibb, Scotland has an outstanding creative heritage stretching back centuries in studio, industrial and technological design.

A man teaches a young woman
A volunteer helps a young person learn engineering skills

Projects

Blyth's Ship Building Heritage

In just four years, Blyth Tall Ship grew from a germ of an idea and a patch of derelict quayside land, to an inspiring start-up business supporting boatbuilding skills.

A group of project participants with banners
A group of project participants with banners

Projects

Egham Museum Magna Carta 800 Project

Celebrating the 800th anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta, this project delivered a programme of activities and events with the local community.

One of the rarest coins from the hoard
A coin from the hoard

Projects

Roman Sussex: saving a remarkable treasure

Brighton’s Royal Pavilion and Museums used HLF funding to save a rare treasure hoard, building a valuable network for local museums in the process.

Young participants at the Renaissance Globe Project

Projects

The Renaissance Globe Project

The Museum of the History of Science in Oxford illuminated the astonishing history of globe-making for thousands of children and families.

First World War soldiers in uniform
First World War soldiers in uniform. Photo: Tynemouth World War One Commemoration Project.

Projects

Tynemouth World War One Commemoration Project

Volunteers and local residents have gathered information on 1,700 local men from Tynemouth, all of whom died in the First World War.

A black and white image of K K McArthur with the trophy
K K McArthur holding a trophy following his marathon victory at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm

Projects

K K McArthur Centenary 1912-2012

100 years on, Ballymoney celebrated the Olympic marathon victory of one of its most famous sporting sons with an exhibition, public performances and workshops.

black speech mark icons, representing oral history

Projects

Bournemouth in Wartime Exhibition

This project, led by Bournemouth Natural Science Society, created a temporary exhibition as part of Local History month to commemorate Bournemouth's role in the Second World War.

If you query is regarding our application portal, please contact our support team.