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 £2.4billion to more than 1,200 museums and galleries across the UK.
We have awarded over £500,000 to more than 1,700 projects in UK archives and libraries.
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
Blog
Superlative museum specimens
It's International Museum Day on 18 May. To celebrate, we got in touch with some of the 1,100+ National Lottery Heritage Fund-supported museums to find out about their most weird, wonderful and significant objects.
Matt Smith, CEO of Key Fund, and Michael Ellis, Minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism
Matt Smith, CEO of Key Fund
News article
Northern Powerhouse celebrates new £3million fund for arts and creative industries
The NCRF was set up by the Department for Digital Culture Media and Sport as part of the legacy of the Great Exhibition of the North. Through the NCRF, £3m will now be available to enterprises across the Northern Powerhouse areas of the North of England to apply for repayable finance (loans and
James Brittain
News article
Celebrities and surprises spotted in Painted Hall, Greenwich
The Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich reopens on 23 March, thanks to £3.1million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
News article
Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery turns back time to original design
At a grand manor house in Ealing, 175 years’ worth of paint layers and unsympathetic renovations have been peeled back to reveal the stunning original design of one of the UK’s most influential architects. Soane’s house of art and entertainment Sir John Soane, architect of buildings including the
News article
National Football Museum acquires prize-winning Toynbee artwork thanks to National Lottery grant
The National Football Museum has acquired an exciting new painting to add to its collection of 20th century art, thanks to National Lottery players.
News article
Black Country Living Museum to build historic new town
Thanks to £9.4million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Black Country Living Museum will undergo a huge transformation to share stories of life in the 1940-60s.
News article
Seven days to celebrate #MuseumWeek 2019
We're getting involved with Museum Week's seven themes over seven days using seven hashtags. To celebrate, we're sharing one fantastic National Lottery Heritage Fund-supported museum every day.
News article
Marvellous mills to explore this National Mills Weekend
The ultimate in sustainable power, hundreds of windmills across the country are opening up their doors to the public for National Mills Weekend (11-12 May). We've chosen some of our favourites.
Blog
Museums should be like public squares - for everyone to enjoy
I have always loved learning - but museums haven't always felt welcoming to me. Many have improved, but the story's not over yet.
Story
Unmissable openings this autumn
Wherever you live - or whatever you enjoy doing - this autumn sees an exciting array of National Lottery-funded attractions opening across the country.
Blog
Eulogy - the responsibility of telling the Windrush generation's stories
I wanted my Dad’s funeral programme to be both functional and something that told his story for our family, especially his grand and great-grandchildren. I knew his dear friend ‘Sunny Man’ my entire life. But it wasn’t until seeing Sunny’s funeral programme that I knew his real name was Daniel
Story
In conversation: Jan Pimblett and Veronica McKenzie on archives and collecting stories of LGBT+ people’s lives
The pair discussed the importance of involving a diverse range of people in their work and how crucial it is to document ordinary people's lives. They also reflected on the progress made by the LGBT+ community over the past 50 years, as well as the challenges they still face. It was an insightful
News article
The first six months: our Strategic Funding Framework
It is six months since we launched our new name, grants structure and Strategic Funding Framework. Here’s what’s happened.
Blog
Young people celebrate important figures of Wales' LGBT+ history
Holly Morgan-Davies from National Museum Wales' Hands on Heritage project writes about the fascinating stories she's discovered from Wales' LGBT+ past.
Blog
Teen Digital Takeover: getting young people into museums
Today is the Kids in Museums Teen Digital Takeover: when young people take over the social media accounts of museums, galleries and heritage sites across the UK. The 2018 Audience Agency Museums Audience Report identifies 16-24 year-olds as one of four key museum audiences. However, it also
Story
Why working with communities can be 'transformational' for museums
Through including LGBT+ people in conversations about their heritage, one National Lottery-funded project has helped improve representation in Glasgow's museums.
News article
Opening up collections: LGBT+ heritage at the V&A
Stuart Hobley, our Director of England, London & South, met with: Joseph Galliano, co-founder of charity Queer Britain , which is working to establish the UK's first national LGBT+ museum Dan Vo, LGBT+ tour co-ordinator at the V&A In the film below, Joseph explains how understanding our past helps
News article
National Lottery Awards shortlist announced.
Nominations have been drawn from the past quarter of a century to celebrate The National Lottery’s 25th Birthday.