Government announces bumper £1.5 billion package to restore national pride

CULTURE Secretary Lisa Nandy has announced that:- £1.5 billion will be invested to save more than 1000 cherished:- arts venues, museums, libraries and heritage buildings across England from closure. The move will fix urgent capital needs and open up access to culture for everyone, everywhere.

As the cost of living continues to affect families across Britain, funding for our treasured cultural venues will ensure vital, affordable and welcoming spaces are available for communities to come together and celebrate what makes their local area special. Another investment this Government is putting in place to support families with the cost of living.

This cash boost will help restore national pride in community assets, bring people together and support no or low cost options for days out as part of the Government's drive to support families with the cost of living. 6 DCMS sponsored museums are in the Top 10 most visited sites in the UK offering free access for millions of Brits each year with this package helping to offer opportunities to engage in culture for families across every community in England.

This will help to build on the Government's Plan For Change by increasing opportunities for people to engage in and experience world class arts and culture, and learn about their local history, their heritage and their neighbours, in every Town and City across the country.

Cash will be invested in areas and organisations that need it most and that have been previously under funded, following over a decade of underfunding in England's much loved community assets.

It includes:- more than £100 million specifically earmarked for local museums struggling with maintenance backlogs and bills. This is expected to directly support up to:- 200 sites across the country.

The move supports the Prime Minister's ambition to restore pride in every part of Britain, turning the page on a decade of neglect in our communities while placing culture back at the heart of our national identity.

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."

This announcement confirms that over the course of this parliament £1.5 billion will be invested in capital projects across the arts, cultural and heritage sectors.

Back in 2025 the Culture Secretary announced:- £270 million worth of investment through the Arts Everywhere Fund, which has already thrown a lifeline to dozens of much loved local institutions. This commitment builds on this further, with additional funding pledged to take investment to:- £1.5 billion, between:- 2025 and 2030.

The cultural sector currently supports:- 700,000 jobs across the country and this package will support thousands of jobs for years to come.

The £1.5 billion of funding is made up of:-

• £760 million for museums:-
  
  ○ £600 million infrastructure funding which will 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 will be invested in our local and Regional museums. The Museums Estates Development Fund will help museums tackle maintenance backlogs, and a new £13.6 million Museum Transformation programme will support organisations 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 heritage protecting and preserving heritage buildings, including:- listed places of worship, across the country:
  
  ○ £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 fund called the 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 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 4 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.

The Arts Everywhere Fund will be integral to utilising investment in arts and culture as a catalyst for local growth in the cultural and creative industries and in supporting local venues to achieve their full potential. Funding will support communities across the country and focus on disadvantaged areas.

These are just some of the comments made following the announcement:-

Antony Gormley, Sculptor said:- "I am delighted to hear our Government is delivering for the arts through this serious uplift in funding."

Grayson Perry, Artist said:- "This is good news and will ensure that many more people across the country can access and enjoy the arts, culture and heritage."

Adjoa Andoh, Actress and Writer, said:- "All the citizens of our country should have access to all the culture in our country. This announcement of a 5 year major investment by the Government into our museums, galleries and libraries is most welcome, with its focus on expanding no and low cost access to the public. Our income or community background should be no impediment to our enjoyment of all the wonderful culture this country has to offer us. A nation with knowledge of and engagement with its arts, its culture and its history will always be a happier, more united nation. Any ways in which Government can meaningfully contribute to the nation's unity in this way is to be greatly welcomed."

Sophie Tea, Artist said:- "The arts don't survive by accident - they thrive when people are given real space and support to create. Being creative isn't a luxury; it can genuinely change, and even save, lives. It's brilliant that the UK Government are recognising and supporting the role the arts play in people's lives"

Co-Chief Executives of the National Theatre Indhu Rubasingham and Kate Varah said:- "Today's announcement is a significant step change in futureproofing the performing arts in all parts of the country as we will now have the opportunity to benefit from sustained capital investment from the Government. This fundamental commitment will support the industry to thrive and grow, enabling more people and communities across the UK to experience the power of arts and culture in their lives. The capital investment the National Theatre has received over the years has made a vital contribution to our pressing need to maintain and upgrade our building as we continue to offer world class theatre to audiences everywhere."

Andrew Leveson, Executive Director, Royal Shakespeare Company said:- "The RSC welcomes the embedding of capital investment in the funding model for arts organisations, announced today. Addressing the urgent capital need in arts infrastructure will support growth across the creative industries, helping to create high quality local jobs and enabling the sector to continue to excite and entertain audiences for generations to come. The RSC looks forward to collaborating to ensure that capital investment can benefit our local community in Stratford-upon-Avon, our partners both in the West Midlands and across the country, and the wider theatre ecosystem."

Hannah Essex, Co-CEO of the Society of London Theatre & UK Theatre said:- "This announcement sends a clear signal of the Government's long term commitment to the UK's cultural infrastructure, and reflects the leadership shown by DCMS and HM Treasury in recognising culture as a driver of economic growth and local regeneration. Sustained capital investment supports growth, protects skilled jobs, improves energy efficiency, and ensures theatres and cultural buildings across the country can continue serving their communities and local economies."

Laura Pye, Chair of National Museum Directors Council, Director of NML said:- "This announcement from the Secretary of State is a massive vote of confidence in the importance of culture to our nation. Investment in museum maintenance; both for Regional and national institutions; is essential if we are to protect our shared heritage and ensure our collections can be enjoyed for generations to come. We are especially encouraged by the commitment to transformation funding to support the sustainability of local and Regional museums. This support recognises the vital role we play in our communities, driving education, creativity, and local pride. With this renewed investment, we can strengthen our foundations and continue delivering world‑class cultural experiences for everyone."

Lord Mendoza, Chairman of Historic England said:- "This is a highly significant allocation of culture and heritage funding. It is a clear signal that the Government recognises that the nation's historic places matter deeply to people. We have just unveiled firm evidence that historic places are vital for our mental wellbeing and people feel profound emotional connections with them. Heritage boosts pride, shapes places where businesses thrive and drives prosperity. It has so much to contribute. This funding will act as a lifeline for heritage across the country, from places of worship to ancient pubs and will give the heritage sector a well-needed boost."