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.
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
Our National Lottery Grants for Heritage programme is open for applications, with refocused priorities for 2021-22. Find out more and apply.
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.
News
Shortlist for our sustainability award announced
Five projects have been shortlisted for a Museums + Heritage award, which recognises their outstanding environmental sustainability practices.
Credit: Roswitha Chesher
News
The Arts and Culture Impact Fund calls for more applicants
Following the successful first £1.2million round of funding, the world’s largest creative arts impact investment fund is now launching its next round of support loans.
Blogs
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.
Stories
Meet the multiple winners of the 2020 Museum of the Year Award
This year, not one, but five museums were crowned winners of the Art Fund Museum of the Year Award.
Stories
Case study: Queering Spires - a history of LGBTIQA+ spaces in Oxford
The Museum of Oxford’s temporary exhibition won the Sustainable Project of the Year Award at the Museums + Heritage Awards 2020.
Blogs
LGBT+ History Month: A space in the archives
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.
Stories
Black History Month: mental health and wellbeing for black workers in heritage
World Mental Health Day falls on 10 October this year, during Black History Month. To mark both occasions, we spoke with a black museum employee to share their experiences within the sector.
Wilderness project
News
Disability History Month: recognising access in its many forms
For Disability History Month, Jonathan Mace and Heather Brown reflect on how their National Lottery funded heritage projects consider a variety of access needs.
Basic Page
Responding to coronavirus (COVID-19)
How we are helping the people and organisations working across the heritage sector.
News
Full range of National Lottery funding resumes with refocused priorities for 2021-22
Applications are open for National Lottery Grants for Heritage from £3,000 up to £5million. We will prioritise projects that contribute to our recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.
News
David Livingstone Birthplace re-opens
The birthplace one of Scotland’s most famous explorers has re-opened following a £6.86million National Lottery grant.
Programme
Digital Skills for Heritage Tranche 8: Digital Volunteering funding
Funding is available for organisations and partnerships to create and support new digital volunteering opportunities.
Credit: Pete Carr
Projects
Igniting ideas and action at the International Slavery Museum
The International Slavery Museum in Liverpool will be transformed from a collection of galleries into a prominent museum, the first of its kind in the UK.
Site of the new marine park at Plymouth.
Credit: Chris Gorman/Big Ladder Photography
News
Heritage Horizon Awards: £50million to five life-changing projects
From the Scottish mountains to England's southwest coast, these big heritage ideas champion environmental, community and cultural heritage.
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
Getting work experience curating the 'Museum in a Jar' exhibition
Blogs
Kick the Dust Norfolk Journeys: helping young people into work
To celebrate World Youth Skills Day, discover how a heritage-themed work experience programme is helping young people to develop crucial skills and secure employment.
Programme
Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage – Emergency Resource Support
Part of the rescue package announced by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to safeguard cultural and heritage organisations across England from the economic impact of coronavirus (COVID-19).
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
Fabric token
Projects
Voices Through Time: The Story of Care
Hundreds of volunteers are helping children’s charity Coram digitise and share its historic archive online.
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
News
Brush up your business skills and strengthen resilience
Applications are open for training and development opportunities to help heritage organisations build better businesses.
News
Contribute your perspective to our new research and development project
Join The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The Young Foundation to explore the question: how can innovation help us do the best we can for the future of heritage?