Museums, libraries and archives

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 over £2.3billion to 5,800 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.

Find out more and apply

Person taking a picture of the South African flag on a phone camera at The Anti-Apartheid Legacy: Centre of Memory and Learning event

People at a community event discussing The Anti-Apartheid Legacy: Centre of Memory and Learning.

Projects

The UK’s first centre dedicated to anti-apartheid heritage

This project will restore the former headquarters of the African National Congress at 28 Penton Street, London, creating a new centre to share the stories of South Africa's liberation.

30/11/2021

Two people install an artwork in an exhibition

Installation of 'Hair: Untold Stories', Horniman Museum and Gardens, December 2021.

News

Art Fund calls for museum partners in new UK-wide programme

Apply to Going Places, a new initiative to help you engage new audiences with your collections through collaborative working and touring exhibitions.

29/08/2023

Photograph of a portrait in a museum setting

The portrait was painted by the Dutch artist Joep Nicolas in 1929.

Projects

Unveiling Literary Treasures: D H Lawrence Portrait Finds Home in Nottingham City Museums

The acquisition of a portrait of writer D H Lawrence celebrates Nottingham’s UNESCO City of Literature and opens up new avenues for engaging with diverse communities.

23/03/2022

Alison Kay, National Railway Museum’s Archives Manager and Ashlynn Welburn, Oral History Project Archivist at Eurostar.

Projects

People, Pride and Progress: recording the histories of LGBTQ+ railway workers

Through the collection of real-life stories, this project aims to spotlight the LGBTQ+ community’s contribution to the railways for the first time.

11/04/2023

The Gurkha Museum is supported by a thriving community of current and former Gurkhas

Stories

Battlefield bonds: sharing the heritage of Nepal and the UK’s military partnership

The Gurkha Museum's redevelopment project will celebrate the unique relationship between Nepal, the British Army and the UK.

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