Cultures and memories

These are the customs and traditions, skills and knowledge, passed down to us through generations.

Since 1994 we have awarded £460million to more than 24,100 community and cultural heritage projects across the UK.

What do we support?

We fund projects which help to explore, save and celebrate the traditions, customs, skills and knowledge of different communities.

This cultural heritage is sometimes referred to as intangible or living heritage. This is because it is constantly changing and kept alive when practiced or performed.

We also fund projects which document and share people’s memories. This often involves capturing oral histories and ensuring they are accessible now and in the future.

Project ideas

Our funding could help people:

research and share oral traditions, such as storytelling or local dialects
train others in traditional skills and crafts, from dry stone walling and blacksmithing to basket weaving and textile making
research the origins of culture, such as music, theatre or dance, and create performances influenced by past styles
share the history and fun of celebrations, festivals or rituals with new audiences, from games and cooking to carnivals and fayres
capture accounts of traditional knowledge or pass it on, such as woodland management or home remedies
record the stories of ordinary people through oral histories, for example about growing up, migration or work
retell people’s memories about a place or event, such as a long-stay hospital, the miners' strikes or the punk movement

How to get funding

If you have an idea for a project, we would love to hear from you.

Explore our available funding

Participants logging archive materials

Projects

50 Years of MPA

Mid Pennine Arts (MPA) is looking back through their archives to help celebrate its 50th anniversary.

30/03/2015

Participants discussing one of the exhibition items

Projects

Lest We Forget

Refugees and asylum seekers in Glasgow explored the experiences of Belgian refugees during the First World War.

24/02/2015

The Ardgowan Primary school created 12 memory boxes

Projects

Touching Memory

Touching Memory created memory boxes for people with dementia that explore the everyday life of people living in Inverclyde from the 1950s to the 1980s.

24/02/2015

Young volunteers who took part in the project

Projects

Joy Bangla: The British Bangladeshi Story in Rossendale

Exploring the contributions of Rossendale’s first generation Bangladeshi Pioneers through intergenerational working.

02/03/2015

A group of young volunteers of the Mental Health, Past, Present, Future project

Young people who have worked together on the Mental Health, Past, Present, Future project

Projects

Mental health treatment for young people: past, present and future

The Mental Health, Past, Present, Future project is exploring the history of mental health treatment for young people.

02/03/2015

There has been a real appetite amongst Thurrock residents to learn more about the work of this relatively unknown local scholar.

Projects

Raising awareness in Thurrock of Alfred Russel Wallace

Funding was used by volunteers of Thurrock Local History Society to collate material for displays about the little-known achievements of Alfred Russell Wallace who was resident at The Dell in Grays Thurrock in the 19th century.

12/02/2015

Women in World War I: The Welsh Experience

Margaret Ann Lloyd and friend at Mannesman Ammunitions

Projects

Women in World War I: The Welsh Experience

This 12-month project focused on the hidden histories of women in the First World War. It marked the Centenary of 1915 – the year when women were first actively encouraged to undertake work traditionally performed by men.

23/01/2015

Volunteers get to grips with Roman costume

Projects

Bridge to the Future

Young people from Chesterton changed their attitude to their neighbourhood by uncovering its Roman past.

23/01/2015

Commemorating the contribution of Polish aircrew during WWII

Members of Aik Saath at Bentley Priory Museum

Projects

Commemorating the contribution of Polish aircrew during the Second World War

Young people in Slough led a heritage project to commemorate the stories of Polish aircrew in the RAF to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

12/12/2014

Participants looking at objects as part of the Great War to Race Riots

Projects

Great War to Race Riots - Black Servicemen's struggle to survive at home and abroad

The Great War to Race Riots project focused on Liverpool's Black history from the end of the First World War to the 1919 Toxteth race riots.

12/01/2015

Projects

Out and Proud Histories in Greater Manchester

The Out and Proud project explores and celebrates lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) histories and heritage across Greater Manchester using digital technologies.

12/01/2015