UK Government unveils £1.5 billion investment to restore national pride
The UK Government has announced a £1.5 billion funding package to support arts venues, museums, libraries and heritage buildings across England, aiming to protect cherished cultural institutions and help bring communities together.
Under the plan, more than 1,000 cultural venues at risk of closure will receive capital investment to address urgent maintenance needs and improve public access. The funding is intended to revitalise cultural spaces that have faced chronic under-funding over the past decade, and ensure high-quality arts and heritage experiences are available for people in towns and cities nationwide.
The package is part of the Government’s broader strategy for national renewal, providing opportunities for families to enjoy affordable days out and strengthening civic pride in local places. It includes earmarked funding to tackle maintenance backlogs at struggling museums, and support for the creative and heritage sectors to deliver on their commitments to visitors and communities.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the investment recognises the power of culture to unite people and tells the UK’s national story, while helping safeguard venues that are vital for education, creativity and community life.
This commitment marks one of the most significant uplifts in cultural infrastructure funding in recent years, reflecting a renewed focus on ensuring the arts and heritage remain central to British life and accessible to everyone.
£1.5 billion national culture and heritage investment – breakdown
| Funding area | Amount | What it will be used for |
|---|---|---|
| Museums – national institutions | £600m | Infrastructure funding for national museums and DCMS-sponsored cultural organisations. It will tackle critical maintenance issues, upgrade estates, and help museums share collections and expertise across the UK, attracting visitors from home and abroad. |
| Museums – local and regional | £160m | Support for local and regional museums through the Museum Estates and Development Fund to clear maintenance backlogs, plus a new £13.6m Museum Transformation programme to help museums become more financially sustainable. |
| Creative Foundations Fund | £425m | Capital investment supporting around 300 arts venue projects nationwide, helping theatres, galleries and cultural spaces upgrade buildings and facilities. |
| Heritage buildings (overall) | £230m | Funding to protect and preserve heritage buildings across the country, including listed places of worship and historic community sites. |
| – At-risk heritage repairs | £75m | Grants to repair and conserve historic buildings that are most at risk of deterioration or loss. |
| – Heritage Revival Fund | £46m | Funding to help communities take ownership of local heritage buildings and bring them back into active public use. |
| – Places of Worship Renewal Fund | £92m | A new fund replacing the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, giving religious heritage buildings access to the same level of government support as other historic sites. |
| Libraries Improvement Fund | £27.5m | Investment to modernise public libraries, upgrading buildings and technology so they can better serve communities and changing local needs. |
| Arts Council England National Portfolio organisations | £80m | Capital funding over four years to support regularly funded arts organisations, forming part of a 5% uplift next year to help deliver cultural activity in every local authority. |
What this means in simple terms
This £1.5 billion package from the UK Government is designed to protect Britain’s cultural backbone – museums, libraries, arts venues and historic buildings – while making them more resilient for the future.
In the short term, the funding tackles urgent repairs and maintenance, preventing closures and safeguarding nationally important buildings. Over the longer term, it helps cultural organisations modernise, attract visitors, and develop sustainable business models, reducing reliance on emergency funding.
Crucially, much of the investment is aimed outside London, supporting local pride, community use of heritage buildings, and access to arts and culture in every part of the country. For the public, it means better museums, revitalised heritage sites, improved libraries, and more cultural activity close to home – all helping to strengthen local identity and national pride.and expanding access to culture, this funding promises to strengthen community identity, boost tourism and ensure that arts and culture remain part of everyday life across England.
