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Museums, libraries and archives

Museums, libraries and archives

A person handles large parchment documents in an archive room, with shelves of archive boxes in the background
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 £2.5billion to 6,000 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.

Find out more and apply
Children in a museum
Children enjoying an exhibition at Seven Stories, Newcastle upon Tyne

Hub

Dynamic Collections

Our campaign supported collecting organisations across the UK to become more inclusive and resilient with a focus on engagement, re-interpretation and collections management.
Hands on embroidery
Lindy Anderson

Projects

Touching stitches: embroidery access for the blind

This innovative project explored ways to enable blind and partially sighted people to access the Edinburgh College of Art’s historic textile collection, which spans over three centuries.

Self portrait by William Dobson, c. 1635-1640
William Dobson, Self-Portrait c.1635-40. Image courtesy of Tate and the National Portrait Gallery

Projects

Rare self-portrait by William Dobson saved for the UK

With our support, Tate and the National Portrait Gallery have jointly acquired the earliest known work of one of the first great British painters.

A group of people posing with an award
Joint winners of Sustainable Project of the Year, Stourbridge Glass Museum Eco-friendly Upcycled Glass Exhibition in New Eco Museum. Credit: Hayley Bray.

News

Winners announced for Sustainable Project of the Year 2025

Railworld Wildlife Haven and Stourbridge Glass Museum have been crowned the winners of the sustainability award.
A large group of young people cheering outdoors
Participants in the New to Nature programme including future Game Changer, Lisa Manning.

News

Meet the future game changers of heritage

The next phase of The National Lottery’s Game Changer campaign highlights the incredible impact of young adults across the UK.
A visualisation of the future Royal Marines Experience shows a group of visitors enjoying a ride that recreates the experience of being aboard a high-speed inflatable rig.
The new experience will bring to life centuries of Royal Marines history for visitors of all ages. Credit: Museum of the Royal Navy.

Projects

Creating a new home for Royal Marines heritage

Thanks to National Lottery players, Portsmouth’s historic Boathouse 6 will be reimagined as the first purpose-built home for a nationally important military collection.

A person weaves cream coloured fabric on a wooden handloom
Visitor weaving on a 170 year-old Irish linen damask handloom. Image courtesy of Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum.

News

Museum collections will tour the UK in 40 unique exhibitions

A new landmark £5.36million exhibition programme will see 20 museums and galleries across all four nations sharing their collections.
Two people stand on a staircase looking up, with paintings covering the wall behind them
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum is part of the Founding the Future museum network. Credit: Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, September 2021 © Andy Smith Art Fund 2021.

Projects

Art Fund: Going Places

A new UK-wide programme to engage and involve audiences in museum collections through collaborative touring exhibitions and public programmes.

The tall ship RRS Discovery stands in dry dock neighbouring Dundee's branch of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
RRS Discovery sits in dry dock, neighbouring the V&A Dundee. Credit: Dundee Heritage Trust.

Projects

Launching a new era for Discovery in Dundee

In 1901, RRS Discovery carried Scott of the Antarctic toward the South Pole. Today, transformative redevelopment plans will open up new frontiers for visitors to its Tayside home.

Children engaging with an interactive museum display
Photo: Jodrell Bank/Andrew Brooks.

Stories

Six tips for making heritage autism-friendly

From museums and galleries to gardens and churches, our funding is helping these projects to make heritage sites more inclusive, accessible and welcoming for everyone.
Two visitors use a smart phone to scan a QR code that unlocks additional interpretation and audio guides about the Scottish national collection.
Visitors use a smartphone to access digital guides during their visit. Credit: National Galleries of Scotland.

Stories

Reconnecting Scotland with its national collection

The National Galleries of Scotland has transformed the Scottish galleries in Edinburgh, with the needs of local – and global – audiences at the heart of the project.
A family cycle on a road on a day out to a heritage site
Cyclists arriving at Belton, Lincolnshire. Visitors get a free hot drink when they arrive by train, bus or bike. Photo: National Trust.

News

Six projects shortlisted for Sustainable Project of the Year 2025

From upcycled exhibitions to changing travel behaviour to historic sites, these six projects demonstrate outstanding environmentally-driven initiatives from the past year.

If you query is regarding our application portal, please contact our support team.