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Investing in heritage of diverse ethnic communities

Investing in heritage of diverse ethnic communities

A group of people create artwork at a table covered in flowers
Heritage belongs to us all – which is why we want to help tell everyone's stories.

At The National Lottery Heritage Fund, we support all sorts of projects which explore and celebrate the heritage of diverse ethnic communities.

We want to support all communities to explore and share their heritage, enriching people’s lives and increasing the diversity of heritage workforces, leadership and audiences. That's why under our Heritage 2033 investment principles inclusion, access and participation must be part of every project we fund.

The terms we use

Some of the terms we use include:

  • diverse ethnic communities, or ethnically diverse communities. In Scotland we use MECC (minority ethnic and cultural community). We have revised our usage of the term BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic).
  • LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other identities)
  • Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. This describes a range of ethnic groups or people with nomadic ways of life who are not from a specific ethnicity.

We use these terms because we believe they are widely understood. Identities can be complex and intersectional, and we are also aware that for many these terms may feel inadequate or limiting. We keep the language we use constantly under review.

Black History Month

During Black History Month we’re showcasing some of the remarkable projects we’ve funded that get people involved in learning and sharing black heritage. Browse our collection of black heritage projects and black voices below. 

Get inspiration for your project

Explore the projects below and find out more about applying for our funding.

A horse looking over a fence in front of a group of people sitting in a field
Connecting with the landscape. Credit: Jemma Treweek.

Projects

Connecting people and nature on the South Downs

Changing Chalk is restoring rare chalk grassland and helping local communities reconnect with the area’s rich natural and cultural heritage.

Three people working on the Roma Heritage Project.
The Europia team working on the Roma Heritage Project. Photo: Joanna Rajs.

Projects

Exploring and recording Manchester’s Roma heritage

The Roma Heritage Project will work with local people in Manchester to share traditional dishes and record oral histories from Roma communities.

The left side of the image shows a traditional Traveller wagon, painted with decorative designs, and the right side of the image shows a man leading a pony and trap which a girl is riding
The project held an outdoor fair-style event in June 2023.

Projects

Roma and Irish Travellers: A Shared Story

People from different cultures and backgrounds came together for workshops and celebration events about Roma and Irish Traveller cultural heritage organised by Armagh Roma Traveller Support.

Group of people standing outdoors in front of industrial heritage
Roma community visiting industrial heritage in the South Wales valleys.

Projects

Bringing to life Roma stories in Newport, South Wales

The Roma of Newport, South Wales project is recording and sharing the personal stories, culture and heritage of the area’s Roma community.

Three musicians with guitars and an accordion and four women dancers wearing traditional Eastern European dress.
Romane Cierhenia are a family group of Roma musicians and dancers from Poland.

Projects

Roma Empowerment Through Heritage

This pilot project trained volunteers including young Roma people to record heritage and ran a Roma cultural heritage festival.

An Asian brass band, with musicians and dancers dressed in colourful clothes, walking down a path in front of a stately home
An Indian brass band was part of the celebrations at Wentworth Woodhouse's outdoor family event, WE Wonder, in 2023.

Stories

Turning a stately home into a ‘house of opportunity’

How one project has successfully engaged its community with their local heritage and created benefits beyond just visiting.
A group of black people pose for a photo including a woman
Marie-Claire Kofi, seated right, hopes her organisation's project will empower people who have sickle cell disease.

Projects

Sickle Cell Stories - Then and Now: Plasma of Hope

The Sickle Cell Stories project is capturing and sharing stories of sickle cell disease in the west midlands, paving the way for positive change.

Two people of Chinese heritage play a drum in a procession, while people in the background hold placards with photos of Chinese relatives
Ancestral Futures by Eelyn Lee and collaborators, commissioned by Dig Where You Stand. Photo: Anh Do.

Stories

How artists can uncover hidden histories and fill gaps in the archives

South Yorkshire project Dig Where You Stand invited creatives to explore the often overlooked and poorly documented evidence of people from diverse ethnic communities across the area's history.

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