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Museums, libraries and archives

Museums, libraries and archives tell the stories of our cultural heritage.

Through the objects, collections, film, documents and oral histories they hold they help to give us a sense of place and identity.

Thanks to National Lottery players, since 1994 we have awarded over £2.2bn to more than 5,600 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:

  • revitalise buildings and provide new purpose-built facilities
  • create exciting new exhibition and learning spaces
  • refurbish specialist libraries, archives and galleries
  • attract more diverse audiences
  • interpret and open up acquisitions
  • develop collections

How to get funding

Our National Lottery Grants for Heritage programme is open for applications, with refocused priorities for 2021-22.

Find out more and apply
People sitting at tables with modern displays of musical instruments
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.
Dry soil at sunset

Basic Page

How we're tackling climate change

In our corporate plan we have committed to play our part in tackling climate change – both within our organisation and in our grant giving.
A graphic showing different types of heritage organisation feeding into the DASH survey, accompanied by the words "DASH Survey: Helping UK heritage learn more about their people's digital attitudes and skills"
All types of heritage organisation can take the DASH survey

News

Calling all heritage organisations: address your digital needs by taking the DASH survey

What is the DASH survey? Developing digital skills can help heritage organisations weather the COVID-19 pandemic and move towards a more resilient, creative future. But understanding how best to use digital can feel like a large and daunting prospect. The Digital Attitudes and Skills for Heritage
BFI at Home Cast & Director Q&A – Judas and the Black Messiah. © British Film Institute
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
Ferry Meadows Country Park

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
An allotment with plants and greenhouse
Boundary Way allotments, Wolverhampton

News

Our new report uncovers impact of COVID-19 crisis on heritage

We commissioned Renaisi to find out how heritage organisations across the UK used our emergency funding, which was delivered at speed from April last year. The report reveals the positive impact the Heritage Emergency Fund had on the sector, as we distributed £49,829,600 to 961 heritage

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