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Museums, libraries and archives

Museums, libraries and archives

A person handles large parchment documents in an archive room, with shelves of archive boxes in the background
Black Cultural Archives. Credit: Kois Miah
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 £2.4billion to 5,900 museum, library, archive and collection-based projects across the UK. See stories from projects we've funded below.

We provide grants for heritage projects from £10,000–£10million to ensure that heritage is valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future.

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 Heritage Grants programme is open for applications.

Find out more and apply
Two people of Chinese heritage play a drum in a procession, while people in the background hold placards with photos of Chinese relatives
Ancestral Futures by Eelyn Lee and collaborators, commissioned by Dig Where You Stand. Photo: Anh Do.

Stories

How artists can uncover hidden histories and fill gaps in the archives

South Yorkshire project Dig Where You Stand invited creatives to explore the often overlooked and poorly documented evidence of people from diverse ethnic communities across the area's history.
People walk around the exhibits including peace banners and posters
Exhibition and collection items on display in the new building at Salt Mills. Credit: The Peace Museum.

Projects

Bradford’s unique museum exploring peace moves to Saltaire

The Peace Museum has made its collection more accessible in its new permanent home at Salt Mills in Saltaire, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A group of people are in a studio taking part in a movement and dance workshop
Young people take part in a movement and performance workshop as part of the Catalyser learning programme. Photo: Hunter Gatherer.

Projects

Choreozone: Activating an Archive

Clod Ensemble is celebrating and sharing the lived experience of performance artists, improving access to the collections and inspiring a younger generation.

A group of people some wearing high-vis jackets stand together in front of a round house made from wood with a thatch roof
Some of the team stand in front of the newly completed roundhouses. Photo: The Scottish Crannog Centre.

Stories

Case study: The Scottish Crannog Centre

The local community and natural environment are central to this sustainable museum, joint winner of Sustainable Project of the Year at the Museums + Heritage Awards 2024.
A rock walled mineshaft illuminated by torchlight stretched into the distance, in the foreground the silhouette of a person wearing a miners helmet and looking along the tunnel
In Lochnell Mine visitors can experience how Wanlockhead's miners worked. Photo: The National Lottery Heritage Fund/Leyla Webbe.

Projects

Lead turns Gold! The Museum of Lead Mining is 50

Situated at the top of the Mennock Pass the museum is a hub for information, equipment and permits for gold panning in the area.

People looking at display cases in a mezzanine gallery.
Meet the Changemakers event on Manchester Museum Top Floor. Credit: Manchester Museum.

Stories

Case study: Roots and Branches

Joint winners of the Sustainable Project of the Year Award at the Museums + Heritage Awards 2024, Manchester Museum and Museum Development England, share their tips for growing a Carbon Literate museum community.
A person in an apron helping another person use a pottery wheel
Learning at The Leach Pottery. Credit: © Ellen Love.

News

£7.6million awarded to unique museums around the UK

From iconic football shirts to the world’s first deep-sea diving helmet, we’re supporting projects to share rare historic objects with the public.
Staff outside The Story, a new history centre in Durham.
Staff outside The Story. Photo: Durham County Council.

Projects

A new home for County Durham’s historic collections

Mount Oswald, a Grade II Listed manor house, has been transformed into The Story, a new visitor attraction celebrating the heritage of County Durham.

If you query is regarding our application portal, please contact our support team.