Museums, libraries and archives
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.
160-million-year-old crocodile skull.
Stories
Discover fascinating heritage on display for first time
An unseen Turner painting is among a range of heritage objects to go on display for the first time thanks to National Lottery funding.
Design visual of the Natural History Museum garden. Credit: Feilden Fowles and J & L Gibbons
News
£3.2million for the Natural History Museum’s Urban Nature Project
A major project will support wildlife in London and other UK cities through a biodiverse green space, scientific innovation and engaging young people.
Marquess of Anglesey's Column
News
Latest National Lottery funding opens up access to heritage
More than £14million has been awarded to projects that will help a wider range of people benefit from heritage.
News
David Livingstone Birthplace re-opens
The birthplace one of Scotland’s most famous explorers has re-opened following a £6.86million National Lottery grant.
Site of the new marine park at Plymouth.
News
Heritage Horizon Awards: £50million to five life-changing projects
We are proud to announce the recipients of our Heritage Horizon Awards. Over £50million of funding has been awarded to five transformational projects across the UK. When we launched the Heritage Horizon Awards in 2019, we set out to fund ideas that unlocked possibility. From innovative farming
Credit: Pete Carr
Projects
International Slavery Museum: Igniting Ideas and Action
The International Slavery Museum in Liverpool will be transformed from a collection of galleries into a prominent museum, the first of its kind in the UK.
BFI at Home Cast & Director Q&A – Judas and the Black Messiah. © British Film Institute
Blogs
Running digital events: top tips from the BFI
BFI Southbank is the nation’s film theatre, and the physical home of British film heritage, culture and learning. When we had to close our venue doors in March 2020, we were determined to continue offering audiences the very best in film programming and contextual events. We used our digital
Getting work experience curating the 'Museum in a Jar' exhibition
Blogs
Kick the Dust Norfolk Journeys: helping young people into work
Discover how a heritage-themed work experience programme is helping young people to develop crucial skills and secure employment.
News
£6.5million for heritage projects in Staffordshire, Peterborough and Dudley
The projects aim to preserve key heritage sites, and will benefit a diverse range of people – from the church community to the locals of Stafford town centre. History at the Heart of Community Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Archives is receiving £3,964,000 for the History at the Heart of Community
Boundary Way allotments, Wolverhampton
News
Our new report uncovers impact of COVID-19 crisis on heritage
The report provides valuable insight into how heritage was affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis over the past year and the challenges the sector still faces.
Music Gallery, Horniman Museum
News
Museums reopen in time for International Museum Day
A huge number of museums that have received National Lottery Heritage Fund support are reopening across the UK in time for International Museum Day. To celebrate, here's a selection of what's on offer.
Credit: Roswitha Chesher
News
The Arts and Culture Impact Fund calls for more applicants
Following the successful first £1.2million round of funding, the world’s largest creative arts impact investment fund is now launching its next round of support loans.