Museums, libraries and archives
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 over £2.3billion to 5,800 museum, library, archive and collection-based projects across the UK.
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.
Conservators from the National Museum of the Royal Navy with the polar Kellett sledge flag
News
Rare polar sledge flag used in search for Franklin’s doomed expedition saved for the UK
The National Museum of the Royal Navy's campaign to save a rare polar expedition sledge flag has been successful, thanks to National Lottery funding.
Projects
Brampton is Growing: environmentally sustainable museum redevelopment
An inspiring eco refurbishment project transformed The Brampton Museum, adapting to the climate crisis and increasing its capacity to welcome more people to the museum.
News
The Food Museum and SS Great Britain Trust win Sustainable Project of the Year
Joint winners are celebrated for their outstanding commitment to environmental sustainability at this year’s Museums + Heritage Awards.
Crystal Palace Park
News
More than £24million awarded to heritage projects across the UK
From John O’Groats to Penzance, across Wales and Northern Ireland, we’re supporting the protection and conservation of parks, built heritage, memories and more.
The Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford
Blogs
Final weeks to apply for Dynamic Collections grants
Our lead on museums, libraries and archives reflects on our Dynamic Collections campaign as it comes to an end, and our long-term commitment to supporting heritage collections.
Curating for Change Fellows at the Museum of London. Credit: Museum of London
Stories
How to make recruitment fair and open to all
Curating for Change – the National Lottery-funded work placement programme for D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent curators in museums – is challenging the heritage sector to consider equitable recruitment.
News
Shortlist announced for Sustainable Project of the Year
Six projects have been shortlisted for the Museums + Heritage award, which recognises outstanding environmentally sustainable projects or exhibitions.
Frieze, 1923
News
Pioneering portrait photographer Dorothy Wilding celebrated in new exhibition
Works by the photographer – who took the iconic portrait of the young Queen Elizabeth II featured on UK stamps – go on show in Gloucester thanks to National Lottery funding.
Display of gig posters at The Museum of Youth Culture
Stories
Future-proofing museum collections: four Dynamic Collections successes
We look at four projects getting underway in museums, libraries and archives that are working innovatively to make the most of their collections.
Mark Etheridge, Curator of LGBTQ+ History in front of 'Wales is… Proud' display.
Stories
Wales is Proud: a look into a national LGBTQ+ collection
Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum of Wales is actively collecting objects, documents, photographs and oral histories to fully represent the LGBTQ+ community and lived experience in Wales
Rickshaw being painted as part of the South Asia Gallery at Manchester Museum
News
Hello Future: Manchester Museum to reopen following ambitious transformation
Supported by National Lottery players, the museum will offer visitors the chance to see never-before-displayed collections, explore unique co-curated galleries and learn about extraordinary projects and research.
An impression of what the new heritage railway attraction might look like. Credit: Darlington Borough Council
Projects
Stockton and Darlington Railway
A state-of-the-art visitor attraction and new community engagement scheme will celebrate this historic railway line.