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 or browse projects we've funded.
How to get funding
Our National Lottery Heritage Grants programme is open for applications.
News
Dylan Thomas Centre re-opening: Granddaughter’s preview of new-look exhibition
Speaking about the significance of the centre, Hannah Ellis said: “The redevelopment of the Dylan Thomas Centre exhibition is potentially one of the biggest legacy projects to have emerged in this centenary year of my grandfather’s birth and it is extremely important to me that the City and County
Bilingual interpretation boards at the Holyhead Maritime Museum
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First World War remembered in Anglesey thanks to Lottery funding
HLF has recently awarded over £20,000 to projects in Anglesey, which will ensure the repair of the memorial village clock in Gwalchmai, expand and revitalise Holyhead’s Maritime Museum and fund a programme of commemorative events in Beaumaris. Jennifer Stewart, Head of HLF, Wales said, “We want to
Carys Howell speaking at an event
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Opportunities to join Wales Committee
I was first attracted to applying for a role as a Committee member because HLF looks at heritage in its broadest sense. It includes landscapes, people, language and it also covers the whole of Wales. I know how important it is that heritage in all its forms across Wales is protected so this was a
Educational activity at Giant's Causeway
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Opportunities to join our Committees
The work of our CommitteesOur committees meet four times a year and take decisions on requests between £100,000 and £2million. They also provide crucial local perspectives and a steer on priorities for larger grants and targeted initiative decisions which come before the UK Board. Members will have
William Bowen Stephens was a resident of Narberth and his letters describe his experiences on the frontline.
News
Letters from the Front - Lottery Funding for Narberth Museum
As a result of a £9,200 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund through their First World War: Then and Now programme, Narberth Museum will research the letters of William Bowen Stephens who shared his experiences on the frontline with friends and family at home in west Wales as part of the Letters
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HLF helps lift the curtain on Citizens Theatre redevelopment
Originally opened in 1878 as a variety theatre in Glasgow’s Gorbals, the Citz, as it is affectionately known, became home to the Citizens Theatre Company in 1945, launching the careers of actors such as Stanley Baxter, Bill Paterson, Rupert Everett, Gary Oldman, Helen Baxendale, Alan Rickman and
Roberts Park
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Public parks under threat
Today, the Heritage Lottery Fund has published State of UK Public Parks 2014: Renaissance to risk? its first report to comprehensively review the condition and management of the UK’s public parks. Two decades of public and Lottery investment has ensured that the majority of UK parks are in better
Hedd Wyn
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£2.8million Lottery grant success for Hedd Wyn’s home
As Wales embarks on four years of First World War commemorations, the HLF is playing a key role in the centenary by conserving the Grade II* listed home of the iconic Welsh poet who lost his life in the conflict. Ellis Humphrey Evans, better known by his bardic name, Hedd Wyn, was raised at Yr
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London Transport Museum unveils restored B-type ‘battle’ bus
London Transport Museum has unveiled a restored double deck open top B-type bus as part of its commemorations of the First World War. The B-type bus No. B2737, appeared in public for the first time in Covent Garden on 12 June 2014 - resplendent in its red and cream livery, and featuring
News
Archaeological investigations of Barnsley Pals training camp
To mark the Centenary of the First World War, this project will enable local people in the Barnsley area to be involved with the archaeological, geophysical and landscape survey of the Silverwood Newhall Training Camp site. This project will add to the understanding of the Barnsley Pals battalion’s
News
Wales at War
The impact of the First World War is still felt by us today. It is both a sad but significant part of our national heritage, our national story and our national culture. But the scope of HLF funded work is not just at local level. We are also funding several national, Wales-wide projects which look
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Just Imagine life without National Lottery funding
To highlight the difference this money makes to real people and projects a short animated film, narrated by Ricky Tomlinson and starring Ricky, Chris Hoy and Beth Tweddle will be launched on 28 April. The film connects people and projects across the UK and asks the nation to imagine what life would