National Lottery distributors to the arts

Arts Councils

Big Lottery Fund

In 2006 the Big Lottery Fund (BLF) replaced the three Lottery funding programmes: the Community Fund, the New Opportunities Fund and the Millennium Commission.

The BLF agreed to meet all the existing grant commitments of the Community Fund and New Opportunities Fund and maintain their existing programmes in the short-term. The BLF assumed responsibility for monitoring Millennium Commission projects. It provides funding for voluntary and community organisations, local authorities, health bodies, schools and educational bodies and private sector organisations. It funds large-scale regeneration projects and small projects.

The BLF has three funding programmes:

Open Programmes: similar to those funded by the Community fund. These are programmes with broad aims and outcomes, run by voluntary and community organisations.

National Programmes: similar to the larger programmes previously funded by the New Opportunities Fund. They are linked to Government agendas and include health, education and the environment.

Transformational Programmes: similar to those funded by the Millennium Commission and are major projects of national significance with a particular focus on capital development.

The NCA responded to a DCMS consultation on policy directions for transformational grants in May 2005. For more information click here.