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 £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.
News
Beamish Museum looking forward to the 1950s
Over the next five years the popular Living Museum that tells the story of everyday working life will be transformed, creating new ways for people to enjoy the heritage of the North East. The centrepiece will be a ‘new’ 1950s Town and Farm, filled with objects and buildings donated by local people
News
Canterbury Cathedral celebrates!
Today, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has announced earmarked funding worth £72million for six major sites in England: Canterbury Cathedral, Mother Church of the Anglican Communion and a World Heritage Site Nottingham Castle, backdrop to some of England’s most powerful folk stories Bath Abbey, one
News
£12.8m to bring Plymouth's legends to life at major new attraction
Plymouth is celebrating a truly historic moment after scooping earmarked funding of £12.8million from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to create a major new historic and cultural attraction at the very heart of the city. The HLF today announced the results of its major grants (applications of £5m and
News
£11.5m grant for National Army Museum expansion
The grant will help fund the museum’s ambitious Building for the Future project - a radical transformation of its offer, set to deliver new opportunities for accessing the Museum and its Collection.After receiving initial HLF support for the project in 2012, NAM, based in Chelsea, London, has been
News
Uncover the hidden art of Barnsley
In 2012, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) granted the voluntary group Barnsley Art on Your Doorstep (BAYD) £50,000 for a two year learning programme culminating in this exhibition. Support from Barnsley Arts, Museums and Archives Service and Barnsley Adult and Family Learning Service has also helped
News
St Peter's Church, Great Totham, wins Lottery funding
Both the oil paintings have been in St Peter’s since at least 1831, but one of them – a painting of the church itself, dating from 1821 – has not been seen for many years. Until last year it was hidden behind a cupboard in the vestry, where it had suffered badly from damp and dirt. It shows the
News
'Not Just Puddings and Parkin' at Selby High School
Students from the Let’s Get Cooking and Growing Club will investigate traditional Yorkshire food heritage and look at Yorkshire farming, fishing, food production and preservation methods. They will research and recreate traditional Yorkshire dishes using time honoured recipes and cooking techniques
News
Blackpool moves one step closer to £20million museum dream
Together with funding from Blackpool Council and volunteer support this creates a £1.6m pot for the development stage of the project. The Blackpool Museum, planned for the Winter Gardens building, will tell the extraordinary story of the world's first working-class seaside resort, celebrating its
News
Major new exhibition to explore The First World War in the Air
This major new exhibition, will allow museum audiences to discover and explore the unique and often overlooked role of air power during the First World War through the incredible stories of the men and women who took part. The creation of new exhibitions and supporting activities will be delivered
News
Green light for Hatton Gallery
The project involves conserving the gallery’s historic and architectural elements, while creating a vibrant and modern exhibition space that will help bring about a new era for art exhibitions and learning in the city. Plans include better interpretation of the iconic Schwitters Merzbarn Wall
News
Bees, boats and Brunel
Today, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is announcing funding of £30m towards 10 projects that reflect the diversity of the UK’s heritage. They include a far-reaching project to help protect the future of our seriously dwindling bee population, two projects which showcase Bristol as one of the major
News
HLF Wales Committee welcomes new member
The Wales Committee is made up of leading figures in the heritage sector across the region who are chosen for their wide range of experience and local knowledge. Responsible for making decisions on applications to the Fund from £100,000 to £2million, the committee are supported by the Wales HLF team