Investing in LGBTQ+ heritage

Heritage has a crucial role to play in contributing to a flourishing, more equitable and inclusive society.

That's why inclusion, access and participation is one of the four investment principles that guide our grant decision making.

Since 1994 we've invested over £12million across the UK in sharing stories of LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other identities) heritage, creativity, activism and much more.

If you've got an idea for a project, we'd love to hear from you.

The terms we use

At The National Lottery Heritage Fund, we use the acronym LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer). The ‘+’ represents people who identify as non-binary, intersex, asexual and other identities.

We use these acronyms 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.

Culture Asia performance

News

Smaller grants making a big difference for Scottish communities

Six exciting projects in Scotland have secured £378,640 National Lottery funding to make a difference for people and heritage.

28/10/2022

Videos

Dynamic Collections: behind the scenes at Pitt Rivers

How the historic Oxford museum "queered its collections" and changed the way it worked, forever.

A family of two adults and a young child in the grounds of St Fagans Museum

Publications

Understanding how we can be a more inclusive and equitable funder

Explore the findings from our independent research examining perspectives on heritage, inclusion and barriers to accessing our funding.

Colourful handmade poster for the In Plain Sight project. Rainbows, flowers and an eye decorated with LGBTQ+ colours can be seen

Projects

In Plain Sight: A Story of Gwen Lally

This Bradford-based project will explore the history and traditions of Gwen Lally – a queer historical figure and the first woman pageant producer in England

19/05/2022

Jasspreet Thethi and friend at Never Going Underground exhibition

Stories

LGBTQ+ projects that mean the most to us

We are proud to fund projects which celebrate LGBTQ+ history - here are a few of our staff members' favourites.

Pride march, 1974. Credit: Wikimedia

Stories

Saving LGBTQ+ stories before they are lost forever

A new Heritage Fund project might be the last chance to capture the experiences of LGBTQ+ people in Manchester who remember life before the Sexual Offences Act 1967.

Old photo showing large billboard with the words "AIDS: don't die of ignorance"

Don’t Die of Ignorance campaign billboard in Levenshulme, c.1986. Credit: Manchester Archives and Local Studies.

Projects

Pride! Prevention! Protection! 30 years of safer sex

LGBT Foundation recorded the memories of people involved in and affected by safer sex campaigns from the 1980s to the present day.

09/03/2017

Portrait of Andrew White Director or Wales

Blogs

A year as Director of Wales: lockdowns, Pride and inclusion

Andrew White reflects on his first year as director of The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales, and our commitment to inclusion.

24/06/2021

Blogs

A space in the archives for LGBTQ+ heritage

Dr Alan Butler tells us how the Plymouth LGBT+ Archive has captured important stories and continues to evolve as an active part of the community.

23/02/2021

A national Welsh flag with rainbow background.

A Welsh flag with rainbow background from the Amgueddfa Cymru–National Museum Wales collection

Projects

Hands on Heritage

The Hands on Heritage project at Amgueddfa Cymru–National Museum Wales’ enabled young people from diverse backgrounds to have an impact on the collections.

28/06/2017

©Shibden Hall

News

Follow in the footsteps of ‘Gentleman Jack’ in Edinburgh

People will be able to explore the LGBT+ history and culture of Edinburgh through a new walking tour following in the footsteps of diarist and world traveller, Anne Lister - whose life was depicted in the popular BBC series, Gentleman Jack.

22/02/2021