Museums, libraries and archives

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, browse projects we've funded, or explore our recent Dynamic Collections campaign.
How to get funding
Our National Lottery Heritage Grants programme is open for applications.

Publications
Making real changes in collections development

Stories
Discover fascinating heritage on display for first time

News
£3.2million for the Natural History Museum’s Urban Nature Project

News
Latest National Lottery funding opens up access to heritage

News
David Livingstone Birthplace re-opens

News
Heritage Horizon Awards: £50million to five life-changing projects

Projects
International Slavery Museum: Igniting Ideas and Action
The International Slavery Museum in Liverpool will be transformed from a collection of galleries into a prominent museum, the first of its kind in the UK.

Blogs
Running digital events: top tips from the BFI

Blogs
Kick the Dust Norfolk Journeys: helping young people into work

News
£6.5million for heritage projects in Staffordshire, Peterborough and Dudley

News
Our new report uncovers impact of COVID-19 crisis on heritage

News