More than 1,000 cherished arts venues, museums, libraries and heritage buildings across England will be protected from closure following the announcement of a £1.5 billion investment from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
The funding will address urgent capital repairs, tackle longstanding maintenance backlogs and open up access to culture for communities nationwide, ensuring treasured local venues remain welcoming, affordable and accessible for everyone.
As the cost of living continues to impact families across Britain, the investment aims to protect cultural spaces that offer free or low‑cost days out, social connection and a sense of local pride. The funding will help ensure communities continue to have places to come together, celebrate their heritage and participate in cultural life, regardless of income.
Cultural venues play a vital role in everyday life, acting as community hubs while preserving local history and creative expression. The government says this cash boost will help restore national pride in community assets following more than a decade of underinvestment.
The £1.5 billion package will be invested over the course of this parliament in capital projects across the arts, culture and heritage sectors. It includes more than £100 million specifically earmarked for local museums, helping up to 200 sites struggling with maintenance backlogs and rising bills.
Six DCMS‑sponsored museums already rank among the top ten most visited attractions in the UK, offering free entry to millions of people each year. The new funding aims to extend similar access to culture for families in every community across England.
The funding package includes:
- £760 million for museums
- £425 million through the Creative Foundations Fund, supporting around 300 capital projects in arts venues
- £230 million for heritage, protecting historic buildings including listed places of worship
- £27.5 million for the Libraries Improvement Fund, upgrading buildings and technology in public libraries
- £80 million in capital funding over four years for National Portfolio Organisations supported by Arts Council England, part of a 5% uplift next year
Funding will be targeted towards areas and organisations most in need, particularly those that have previously been under‑funded.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy commented:
“At a time when forces seek to divide us, arts, culture and heritage are what bind us together.
“Our local cultural institutions aren’t just buildings - they’re part of who we are as a nation, they help tell our national story, and provide unique opportunities for young people to pursue their dreams.
“This funding will keep the doors open and the lights on at thousands of arts organisations, museums, libraries and heritage buildings that might otherwise have been at real risk of closing. It will unlock opportunities for millions of people who have been shut out for far too long. That is the Britain we are rebuilding.”
The announcement builds on last year’s £270 million Arts Everywhere Fund, which provided a lifeline to dozens of local institutions. The expanded investment between 2025 and 2030 will use arts and culture as a catalyst for local economic growth, particularly in disadvantaged areas.
The UK’s cultural sector currently supports around 700,000 jobs, and the funding package is expected to safeguard thousands of roles while creating new opportunities across the creative industries.
The investment supports the Prime Minister’s ambition to restore pride in every part of Britain, turning the page on a decade of neglect and placing culture back at the heart of the nation’s identity. By protecting valued community assets and expanding access to world‑class arts and heritage, the government says the funding will help ensure culture continues to enrich lives, strengthen communities and support families across England.
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