Museums, libraries and archives
Museums, libraries and archives tell the stories of our cultural heritage.
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 £2.5billion to 6,000 museum, library, archive and collection-based projects across the UK. See stories from projects we've funded below.
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
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, browse projects we've funded, or explore our recent Dynamic Collections campaign.
How to get funding
Our National Lottery Heritage Grants programme is open for applications.
William Wordsworth's home
Stories
Places and poems for valentines
We share three historic sites loved by some of the UK’s most romantic poets this Valentine's Day.
Stories
And the winner is... we celebrate awards season
As we launch a new sustainability award, we take a look back at just a few of our award-winning heritage projects. Red carpets at the ready...
J M W Turner, Malmesbury Abbey, Wiltshire, 1827
News
Turner painting of Malmesbury Abbey saved for the nation
A watercolour of Malmesbury Abbey by J M W Turner has been acquired by Athelstan Museum in Malmesbury, thanks to National Lottery players.
News
Public help solve mystery of 2000-year-old warrior
An Iron Age warrior found buried on a housing estate has gone on public display in Chichester thanks to National Lottery players.
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).
Stories
25 years: astronaut Tim Peake celebrates National Lottery funding for world of science
Major Tim Peake reveals ten top scientific attractions in the UK to celebrate The National Lottery’s 25th Birthday - and the £596million it was awarded to science museums and science and education projects.
Stories
25 years: The Silverstone Experience says #ThanksToYou!
In October 2019, the brand-new Silverstone Experience opened its doors to the public at the famous motor racing circuit. Housed in a former Second World War RAF hangar, and seven years in the making, it allows visitors to journey through the history of motor sport and Silverstone’s fascinating
Stories
Free offers across the UK for National Lottery players
It's to say "Thank You" for raising more than £40billion for good causes over the last 25 years. A celebration of 25 years Last night (20 November), activist and actress Lily Cole flicked the switch to illuminate the Eden Project’s Biomes, transforming them into iconic National Lottery balls. The
News
Inspiring Medicine galleries open at the Science Museum
Opening just a few days before The National Lottery’s 25th Birthday, support for Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries brings National Lottery investment at the London museum to nearly £34million. "Telling those stories has opened up whole worlds of scientific heritage to be enjoyed and to inspire new
News
Transformed home for one of the UK’s finest art collections
More to see Works by Monet, Tracey Emin, Francis Baker and Barbara Hepworth have taken pride of place in the beautiful new rooms of Aberdeen Art Gallery after a landmark transformation of the building. It is also home to important Scottish artists, designers and makers such as Henry Raeburn, Joan
Stories
25 years: reviving the forgotten heritage of The Broads
Great Yarmouth A stone’s throw from the heart of The Broads and its sprawling landscape in the East of England, is the seaside town of Great Yarmouth. As we hear more and more that our coastal towns are suffering from neglect, National Lottery funding over the last 25 years has aimed to buck the
Blogs
How The National Lottery has helped Wales' museums
The exciting events of Welsh Museums Festival would not be possible without the hard work of museum staff and volunteers, plus crucial investment from The National Lottery.