The government has announced a landmark £1.5 billion investment in arts, culture and heritage, pledging to safeguard more than 1,000 local venues across England and reverse years of

underfunding that have left many community institutions on the brink of closure.

Spread over five years, the funding package represents one of the most significant cultural investments in a generation. Ministers say it will help restore national pride, strengthen local communities and ensure that museums, libraries, arts venues and historic buildings remain open, accessible and affordable for everyone.

Saving local culture at a time of pressure

With the cost of living continuing to squeeze household budgets, the government says protecting cultural spaces is about more than bricks and mortar. Museums, libraries and arts centres provide free or low-cost places for families to gather, learn and enjoy their local area.

Six museums sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) already rank among the top ten most visited attractions in the UK, offering free entry to millions each year. The new funding aims to extend those opportunities to every town and city, particularly in areas that have historically received less support.

Focus on renewal and fairness

The investment will prioritise organisations facing the greatest challenges, many of which have struggled with maintenance backlogs and rising costs after more than a decade of underfunding.

More than £100 million has been earmarked specifically for local museums, helping up to 200 sites tackle urgent repairs and keep their doors open. The wider programme is designed to boost regional pride, support jobs and place culture at the heart of the government’s wider “Plan for Change”.

The cultural sector currently supports around 700,000 jobs across the UK, with ministers saying the package will help secure thousands more in the years ahead.

“Culture binds us together”

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:  “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”.

She confirmed that the £1.5 billion will be invested in capital projects between 2025 and 2030, building on the £270 million Arts Everywhere Fund announced last year.

Where the £1.5bn will go

The funding package includes:

£760 million for museums

 £600 million for national museums and DCMS-sponsored organisations to address critical maintenance and share collections nationwide

 £160 million for local and regional museums, including a new £13.6 million Museum Transformation Programme

£425 million Creative Foundations Fund, supporting around 300 capital projects in arts venues across England

£230 million for heritage

 £75 million for at-risk heritage repairs

£46 million through the Heritage Revival Fund to help communities bring historic buildings back into public use

 £92 million Places of Worship Renewal Fund, replacing the previous Listed Places of Worship scheme and expanding support for religious heritage buildings

£27.5 million Libraries Improvement Fund to modernise library buildings and technology

£80 million in capital funding for Arts Council England’s National Portfolio organisations, forming part of a 5% funding uplift next year

Culture at the heart of national renewal

Ministers say the investment supports the Prime Minister’s ambition to restore pride in every part of Britain, turning the page on years of neglect and recognising culture as a cornerstone of national identity.

By protecting treasured local institutions and expanding access to world-class arts and heritage, the government hopes the package will not only save buildings, but also strengthen communities, boost local economies and ensure culture remains open to all.