£1.5 Billion Investment to Secure the Future of England’s Arts, Culture and Heritage

Transformative DCMS package is designed to address urgent capital needs

A major new commitment from Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy will see £1.5 billion invested across England to help protect more than 1,000 arts venues, museums, libraries and heritage buildings from closure. The transformative package is designed to address urgent capital needs, reverse years of underfunding and significantly widen access to cultural experiences for people in every part of the country.

Across the current parliament, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will deliver the full £1.5 billion investment in capital projects spanning the arts, cultural and heritage sectors. This includes enhancement of physical infrastructure, support for modernisation, and improvements that help venues remain safe, accessible and fit for purpose. The new financial commitment builds on the previous £270 million Arts Everywhere Fund, announced last year to stabilise dozens of beloved local institutions. The Arts Everywhere Fund will continue to play a central role, supporting local regeneration, strengthening creative industries and empowering venues in disadvantaged areas to fulfil their cultural and economic potential.

The total £1.5 billion of funding comprises the following:

• £760 million for museums:
  • £600 million infrastructure funding to support national museums and DCMS-sponsored cultural organisations. Funding will address critical maintenance and works to estates, and enable these institutions to deliver on their commitments to share their collections and expertise nationally, drawing in visitors from around the world.
  • £160 million investment in local and regional museums. The Museum Estates and Development Fund will help museums tackle maintenance backlogs, and a new £13.6 million Museum Transformation programme will support organisations to move towards more sustainable business models.
• £425 million Creative Foundations Fund which will support approximately 300 capital projects in arts venues across the country.
• £230 million for protecting and preserving heritage buildings, including listed places of worship:
  • £75 million for at-risk heritage which provides grants towards repairs and conservation of historic buildings.
  • £46 million for the Heritage Revival Fund which helps communities to take control of and look after local heritage and bring buildings back into public use.
  • In recognition of the important role religious heritage buildings play in the UK’s national story, a new £92 million Places of Worship Renewal Fund will replace the £23 million Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme and bring these important buildings into line with other heritage assets. It will give them access to the same level of financial support from the government as historic houses, monuments and other heritage sites.
• £27.5 million for the Libraries Improvement Fund which supports public libraries to upgrade their buildings and technology to meet changing needs to better serve their communities.
• £80 million capital funding over four years to benefit National Portfolio organisations that receive regular investment from Arts Council England. This is part of a 5% uplift next year for these organisations that will help deliver arts and culture activity in every local authority.

This landmark investment represents a long-term commitment to revitalising England’s cultural landscape and ensuring its treasured institutions remain accessible, resilient and community‑focused.