National Heritage Memorial Fund
Overview
NHMF can help fund heritage projects of all sizes. There is no limit to the percentage of funding that can be applied for.
However, as NHMF operates as a fund of last resort, you must be able to prove that you have explored, or are exploring, all other possible sources of funding.
They can only consider paying the total costs of a project in exceptional circumstances.
What can be funded?
NHMF can help buy anything which is of outstanding importance to the national heritage and at risk or of memorial character.
For example:
- works of fine and decorative art;
- museum collections;
- archives;
- manuscripts;
- items of transport and industrial history;
- historic buildings and land.
In exceptional circumstances, NHMF can fund emergency repairs when a heritage asset (excluding historic buildings and structures) is at imminent risk of irreparable damage.
Who can apply
- Charities (voluntary and public)
- Not-for-profit organisations
- Public bodies
Criteria
Projects should meet the following criteria:
Importance to the national heritage
Your project must be concerned with buying, maintaining or preserving objects, collections, buildings or land that are of particular importance to the national heritage of the UK.
Outstanding interest
The item/s must also be in some way outstanding. This could be because of rarity, quality, association with a historic figure or event or designations.
And either:
At risk
The role of the Fund is specifically to save items that are at risk. Therefore you must be able to prove that the item/s will be at risk in some way should you not be able to acquire them.
or
Memorial character
Items that have a direct link with conflicts or those who lost their lives during them, are given special consideration. Such items still have to meet NHMF’s essential criteria, but they do not have to be at risk.
They do not define heritage, importance or risk - it is up to applicants to make the case for each.
Other considerations
Cost
- The price of the item you wish to buy must not exceed the current market value
- Applicants must commission an independent valuation and submit it with their application. NHMF will also commission our own independent valuation
- Valuations are not required for export-stopped items or those declared treasure
- You must be able to demonstrate that you can provide an appropriate, permanent and secure home for your chosen item/s.
Public access
It is essential that all heritage items they support will be made publicly accessible. Your application should demonstrate how your acquisition of the item will provide new opportunities for the public to access it. If an object is too fragile for long-term display or unrestricted access to land or a building could put it at risk, then managed or restricted access can be considered.
Acknowledgement
It is essential that all NHMF support is acknowledged on any display, interpretation, digital material/websites or hard copy information about your project.
For a list of previously funded projects visit the website