Museums, libraries and archives
Through preservation, exhibition and community engagement, they can bring collections, places and ideas to life. They help us to understand culture, science and history, and give us a sense of place, identity and community.
Thanks to National Lottery players, since 1994 we have awarded £2.6billion to more than 6,100 museum, library, archive and collection-based projects across the UK. See stories from projects we've funded below.
What do we support?
We provide grants for heritage projects from £10,000–£10million for projects led by or featuring museums, libraries and archives.
Our funding supports institutions large and small, including:
- national, local authority and independent museums, libraries and archives
- historic libraries
- community archives and oral history collections
- institutions with heritage collections
Project ideas
Our funding could help people:
- create exciting new exhibition and learning spaces
- attract new and more diverse audiences
- acquire new items and develop collections
- improve organisational resilience
For more inspiration, see the stories below, browse projects we've funded, or explore our recent Dynamic Collections campaign.
How to get funding
Our National Lottery Heritage Grants programme is open for applications.
Hub
Dynamic Collections
Projects
How collaboration helped Belfast Archive Project reach new audiences
Through working with national partners, a team of dedicated volunteers has unearthed remarkable photographic treasures documenting the history of Northern Ireland.
Projects
How oral histories can capture sporting heritage and bring communities together
Talking to the people of Leeds about their shared love of everything from football to table tennis has made a vital contribution to the city’s collections.
Projects
Creating space: rationalising Preston Park Museum
Our support has helped Stockton’s local museum declutter its collection and involve the community in decision making about its future.
Projects
How the Citizens’ Jury shaped the future of Birmingham Museums Trust
28 local people from many different walks of life shared what they want from their museums, and how these institutions can better serve local communities.
Projects
Saving a century of Wales’ broadcasting history
The National Library of Wales is preserving the BBC Wales Archive and connecting communities with their audiovisual heritage.
Projects
Bringing women’s legacy in Northern Ireland to life
Our funding supported the extraORDINARYwomen project at Linen Hall, Belfast, helping to preserve and celebrate the often-overlooked contributions of women in Northern Ireland’s history.
Projects
Creating a home for Cornwall’s archives
A derelict brewery has been transformed into the world's largest archive of Cornish history spanning 850 years.
Projects
Transforming the South Asia Gallery at the Victoria & Albert Museum
Our support will help to reinterpret the collections and showcase rare objects for the first time.
Stories
Grantee Q&A: how Ballycastle Museum pivoted from project-ending issues to success
News
Announcing the winners of our acknowledgement awards 2026
Blogs
Taking experiences with historic collections outside the archive’s walls
Projects
Case study: Gloucestershire Archives’ prize-winning environmentally friendly project
Joint winner of the Sustainable Project of the Year at the Museums + Heritage Awards 2026, the archive shares how it reduced its carbon footprint and inspired public action.
Projects
Reviving Ballycastle Museum – the gateway to a coastal community
A listed 18th-century courthouse and market building in Ballycastle’s Conservation Area will undergo conservation repairs. Together, they’ll become a dedicated space for exploring local heritage.
Publications
Understanding how UK museums manage collections in storage
Projects
Bringing 125 years of hospital history to life
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust is leading a three-year project to mark the 125th anniversary of the Royal Victoria Hospital and establish a social and medical history collection.