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.
Marion Blockley
News
HLF West Midlands welcomes new committee members
The HLF Committee for the West Midlands 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
News
HLF South West welcomes new committee member
The HLF Committee for the South West 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
News
HLF London welcomes new chair and members to committee
As Chief Executive of the West India Committee, a Royal Charter charity; a Governor of the Museum of London and a Fellow of King’s College, London, Blondel will bring a diverse range of expertise to her new role. Two further new appointments to the committee have been named as Jenny Cousins and
News
HLF East Midlands welcomes new committee chair and member
Their appointment takes effect on 1 April and their first meeting in June 2014. The HLF Committee for the East Midlands 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
News
HLF East of England welcomes new committee member
Joff has extensive experience working within the arts and heritage sector delivering programmes for learners of all ages and backgrounds. He is currently ACE Bridge programme manager for Norfolk and Suffolk working to connect young people with great arts, heritage and culture. The HLF Committee for
News
Tyne & Wear in the First World War
Delivered in partnership with Sunderland Museums and Heritage, ‘Wor Life 1914-18’, funded in part through a £205,700 HLF grant, will explore the contribution of Tyne and Wear to the First World War and delve into the war’s effect on the region. The impact of the war will be showcased through a
News
World’s first iron-hulled boat comes home to the Monkland Canal
The full scale replica of the Vulcan, the world’s first iron-hulled boat, arrived at Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life in Coatbridge today (Thursday 27 March) and will soon capture the imaginations of visitors as a major heritage attraction. Named for the Roman god of forge and fire, the
News
Oldest music venue celebrates to the tune of £800,000
The initiative to transform St Cecilia’s Hall in Edinburgh has been awarded £823,500 by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The award is a key part of the University of Edinburgh’s £6.5million vision to create a centre for the study, display and enjoyment of instruments which date back to the sixteenth
News
Ed Vaizey opens London Museum of Water and Steam
Following its £2.3million re-development grant, London’s greatest Victorian steam pumping station reopens under a new name. The London Museum of Water and Steam opens to the public on Saturday 22 March, (following a press launch on Friday 21 March), as part of the UN designated World Water Day
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Bradford YMCA to investigate Tea and Remembrance
The project will focus on the positive impact the YMCA made during the war through the provision of tea huts, providing much needed refreshment and respite for the troops. The project will run for a year and will have a 'home base' at Culture Fusion, on Thornton Road in Bradford’s city centre.Young
News
Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales secures major collection of works by John Piper
The series of works by Piper – the mid-20th century neo-romantic artist – has been purchased from a private individual with links to Wales, thanks to the generous support of the Heritage Lottery Fund (£472,900), the Derek Williams Trust (£350,000) and the Art Fund (£80,000).Much of the collection
News
Remarkable First World War story of Mabel Stobart to be told
Dorset County Museum is proud to announce an exciting new exhibition of national and international interest. Mabel Stobart: A Dorset Woman at War will open at the museum on Saturday 31 May 2014 to mark the centenary of the start of the First World War. The exhibition, which has been funded by a £9