Museums, libraries and archives
Through objects, collections, film, documents and oral histories they help to give us a sense of place and identity.
Thanks to National Lottery players, since 1994 we have awarded £2.4billion to 5,900 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:
- create exciting new exhibition and learning spaces
- attract more diverse audiences
- interpret and open up acquisitions
- develop collections
For more inspiration, see the stories below or browse projects we've funded.
How to get funding
Our National Lottery Heritage Grants programme is open for applications.
Hub
Dynamic Collections
Videos
Dynamic Collections: a visit to Craven Museum
Projects
Voices Through Time: The Story of Care
Hundreds of volunteers are helping children’s charity Coram digitise and share its historic archive online.
Projects
Touching stitches: embroidery access for the blind
This innovative project explored ways to enable blind and partially sighted people to access the Edinburgh College of Art’s historic textile collection, which spans over three centuries.
Projects
Hopetown: celebrating the North East’s railway heritage
A state-of-the-art visitor attraction and community engagement scheme celebrates the historic Stockton and Darlington railway line.
News
Partnership unlocking the UK’s archives awarded £5million
Projects
A new home for County Durham’s historic collections
Mount Oswald, a Grade II Listed manor house, has been transformed into The Story, a new visitor attraction celebrating the heritage of County Durham.
News
Joint winners announced for Sustainable Project of the Year 2024
Projects
Transforming Amber: Building a Resilient Future
This project will safeguard an industrial heritage archive by developing new ways for the Amber Film & Photography Collective to become financially sustainable.
Projects
Unearthing the legacy of Welsh Slate at Amgueddfa Lechi Cymru – National Slate Museum
The museum will be transformed into a world-class visitor attraction at the heart of the Wales Slate Landscape in north west Wales.
Projects
It's showtime: Blackpool's first museum celebrates the town’s rich entertainment heritage
The brand-new museum Showtown leads the way in the cultural regeneration of the UK’s first mass seaside resort.
News
Six organisations shortlisted for Sustainable Project of the Year 2024
Blogs
Techniques for supporting young people's wellbeing during heritage projects
News
Hundreds of special heritage offers across the UK this spring
Stories
LGBTQ+ heritage organisations share their advice on how to run great projects
Blogs