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 £2.5billion 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.
Projects
Celebrating Community Heritage
Social, cultural and industrial heritage of people in the North East was the subject of a three-year project run by Beamish Museum.
Projects
Diary of a Dude: Bringing Jack Pulman's First World War Diary to Life
This project explores the diary of Jack Pulman, a first-hand account of life as an overseas serviceman during the First World War.
Projects
Scotland's pride in focus
Pink Saltire is a Scottish LGBTQ+ news and information charity founded in 2014.
Projects
Celebrating the Spirit of the Cracker Packers
This inspiring community heritage project explores the fascinating lives of Carlisle’s ‘Cracker Packers’ through the ages.
Projects
Risk Takers and History Makers - Celebrating the voices of the Women of Bedford
The stories of four Bedford women were celebrated with workshops and an exhibition.
Projects
CreweCraft: Young Roots Crafting Crewe's Heritage in Minecraft
Young people in Crewe connected with the heritage of their town using digital gaming.
Projects
Exploring visual impairment in Newcastle
Visually impaired volunteers investigated the 150-year-old history of their society to learn more about blind heritage in the North East
Projects
In her footsteps: discovering Suffragettes in the North East
Women who live in the North East explore their region's incredible connection to the First World War and Suffrage movement.
Projects
'Reimagining Wordsworth': the Wordsworth Trust masterplan
The Wordsworth Trust will co-ordinate the transformation of the literary heritage site at Dove Cottage in the Lake District.
Projects
Conservation and display of the Centenary Banner of Downham Benevolent Society (1785 to 1913)
Preserving part of Lancashire’s heritage for the benefit of future generations.
Projects
Manchester Link to West African textiles through ABC wax prints
The project will identify and record, interpret and explain the history of West African textiles designed and produced by ABC Wax in Manchester from 1900’s until the present day.
Projects
A history of Newport CC & the historic Rodney parade ground
A History of Newport Cricket Club and the historic Rodney Parade Ground project shared the history of a locally important County Cricket ground.