1. Home
  2. Our work
  3. Museums, libraries and archives

Museums, libraries and archives

Museums, libraries and archives

Museums, libraries and archives tell the stories of our cultural heritage.

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 over £2.2bn to more than 5,600 museum, library, archive and collection-based projects across the UK.

Dynamic Collections

Our Dynamic Collections campaign supports collecting organisations across the UK to become more inclusive and resilient, with a focus on engagement, re-interpretation and collections management.

It brings together project funding through our open programmes, digital resources and knowledge sharing.

Find out more about Dynamic Collections.

 

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 Grants for Heritage programme is open for applications.

Find out more and apply
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
Ferry Meadows Country Park

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
People sitting at tables with modern displays of musical instruments

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.