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.
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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
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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
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'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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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HLF South East England Committee welcomes new member
The HLF Committee for the South East is made up of leading figures in the heritage sector across the region chosen for their wide range of experience and local knowledge. Responsible for making decisions on regional applications to the Fund from £100,000 to £2million, the committee are supported by
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The Scottish Council on Archives project secures HLF support
The project aims to improve skills and service delivery within the Scottish archives sector. Funding of £513,400 has been awarded to help the Scottish Council on Archives to provide 18 traineeships over the next three years, working in partnership with archive services across Scotland. The ‘Opening
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Wonders of the Animal Kingdom – a new museum of zoology
This funding will support ambitious plans to completely redevelop the Museum of Zoology with displays showcasing the wonders of the animal kingdom, and new stores to preserve its outstanding collections for the future. Our vision is to create a museum that enchants its visitors and celebrates the
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Remembering Wilfred Owen on World Poetry Day
The project will use local archives, letters from Wilfred Owen himself and oral histories to create a smartphone app to be used on the heritage trail which charts the time spent by Wilfred Owen in Dunsden. A booklet, new interpretation boards along the trail, exhibitions and an official launch event