Join us in responding to government’s call for evidence on lottery funding

Making the case for the impact of museums

The UK Government has launched a call for evidence on National Lottery good cause funding to help shape its future investment priorities. The consultation, National Lottery Good Causes: Fund What Matters To You, is open to members of the public, organisations and community groups across the UK. The deadline for submitting responses is 1200 on 23 September 2026.

The National Lottery is a crucial source of funding for museums and heritage. Since being established in 1994 it has awarded £9.5bn to more than 53,000 projects across the UK via the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

We know that museums can increase our sense of wellbeing, help us feel proud of where we come from, and inspire, challenge and stimulate us. We also know that museums need essential investment to continue to make an impact.

As the Museums Association, we have responded to the call for evidence to advocate for museums in the strongest possible terms. We’re now calling for our members to join us in making the case for museums, submitting your own responses to emphasise the impact of lottery funding on museums’ capacity to deliver for their communities.

You can find out what National Lottery funding has supported in your area using its open data tool. You can also find additional context and support for your case studies via the Arts Council’s Culture and Place Data Explorer.

“Lottery funding has transformed the museum landscape across the UK and has been critical for many organisations, enabling them to offer quality spaces and programming that engages communities. The call for evidence is an opportunity for museums to let government know the impact of the investment from the lottery and the ongoing need for that investment and we are strongly encouraging all members to respond to secure the future of this vital investment.”

Sharon Heal, director, Museums Association