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.
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
Strategic support for archives
Archives Revealed is the only grant programme in the UK dedicated to cataloguing archival collections. We've invested £5m in the programme as one of our strategic initiatives.
We're working with The National Archives, The Pilgrim Trust and The Wolfson Foundation to address the significant need to catalogue and open up archive collections across the UK. Read more about what's being achieved with the funding below.
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 or browse projects we've funded.
How to get funding
Our National Lottery Heritage Grants programme is open for applications.
Publications
Understanding how UK museums manage collections in storage
Basic Page
Archives Revealed
Stories
From Hadrian’s Wall to hip hop: how Archives Revealed is unlocking 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.
Hub
Dynamic Collections
News
Sign up your project for National Lottery Open Week 2027
Projects
Reimagining Wrexham’s museum for football and community
The new Football Museum of Wales and Wrexham Museum brings football heritage and local history back to its historic home in north-east Wales through a fully refurbished museum.
Projects
Reuniting Manchester’s Portico Library in a once-in-a-generation project
With a funding boost of £6.4million, Portico Reunited will bring the Grade II* listed building back together for first time in a century.
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
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.
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.