Museums, libraries and archives | The National Lottery Heritage Fund

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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.

Find out more and apply

Image showing the Clock Tower at the Horniman

Clock Tower at the Horniman.

Projects

Horniman gets the green light for transformational nature project

Described as a once-in-a-generation project, the Natural History Gallery and gardens will be redeveloped into a new and engaging space for all.

30/11/2021

Digital recreation of interactive museum interior

Life on the Edge Gallery (Metaphor Design)

Projects

Hereford Museum and Art Gallery revamp receives £5m National Lottery funding boost

Herefordshire Council has been awarded a £5million grant to redevelop the Grade II listed Hereford Museum and Art Gallery.

16/03/2022

A black and white photograph of four nurses in uniform.

A photograph from the archives.

Stories

Three projects that celebrate 75 years of the NHS

From oral histories to archive collections, we’ve awarded over £980,000 to three projects that record and preserve memories of our National Health Service (NHS), for use now and in the future.

Photograph of various items in a wooden box

Items from the Medical Museum collection. Photo: Dawn Jutton

Projects

Medical Museum protects collections and engages local community

The Medical Museum project has revitalised access and engagement with a collection of medical artefacts through exhibitions, workshops, an online archive and personal stories.

23/02/2021

Visitors taste food made with ingredients found in hedgerows at The Food Museum

Visitors take part in food recipe demonstrations, tasting ingredients found in hedgerows.

Stories

Case study: The Food Museum – Hedgerow

Sustainable Project of the Year joint winner, The Food Museum shares their experience of running a project that tackles one of our greatest environmental challenges – biodiversity loss.

A colourful banner commemorating the landing of the Empire Windrush, saying 'Docked here at Tilbury, June 22nd 1948'

Commemorative banner at Tilbury

News

Six projects celebrating the legacy of the Windrush generation

To mark the 75th anniversary of the Empire Windrush landing in the UK, we spotlight some of the projects celebrating and saving the heritage of those who emigrated here.

22/06/2023

A close up of a person conserving a painting on display in the National Portrait Gallery

A conservator works on a painting ready for the reopening of the National Portrait Gallery. Credit: David Parry

News

What can you see when the National Portrait Gallery reopens?

Following a transformational project, supported by a £9.4million National Lottery grant, the National Portrait Gallery in London has reopened its doors.

15/06/2023

Conservators from the National Museum of the Royal Navy with the polar Kellett sledge flag

Conservators from the National Museum of the Royal Navy with the polar Kellett sledge flag

News

Rare polar sledge flag used in search for Franklin’s doomed expedition saved for the UK

The National Museum of the Royal Navy's campaign to save a rare polar expedition sledge flag has been successful, thanks to National Lottery funding.

22/05/2023

The inside of the new gallery at Brampton Museum with artwork displayed on the walls

Projects

Brampton is Growing: environmentally sustainable museum redevelopment

An inspiring eco refurbishment project transformed The Brampton Museum, adapting to the climate crisis and increasing its capacity to welcome more people to the museum.

03/03/2020

Awards lined up at the Museums + Heritage Awards ceremony

News

The Food Museum and SS Great Britain Trust win Sustainable Project of the Year

Joint winners are celebrated for their outstanding commitment to environmental sustainability at this year’s Museums + Heritage Awards.

11/05/2023

An arial view of Crystal Palace Park, including the dinosaurs

Crystal Palace Park

News

More than £24million awarded to heritage projects across the UK

From John O’Groats to Penzance, across Wales and Northern Ireland, we’re supporting the protection and conservation of parks, built heritage, memories and more.

28/03/2023

The inside of the PItt Rivers Museum, a large open indoor space with exhibition cases

The Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford

Blogs

Final weeks to apply for Dynamic Collections grants

Our lead on museums, libraries and archives reflects on our Dynamic Collections campaign as it comes to an end, and our long-term commitment to supporting heritage collections.

17/03/2023