Thank you for your interest in The National Archives’ National Loans Programme. Before submitting an Expression of Interest, please make sure you have read all of the guidance on our webpage about the National Loans Programme.
About the National Loans Programme
The National Loans Programme is an exciting new initiative designed to open up opportunities for archives to borrow and display original records from The National Archives. During this pilot phase, we will work in partnership with seven archives to develop and test a new model of supported lending that can build loan capacity within the sector and increase public engagement with UK archives.
The National Archives invites Expressions of Interest from archives across the UK to join the National Loans Programme during 2026-28. The programme is open to archives of all sizes across the UK. While all loans from The National Archives must meet certain requirements for the care, security and display of collection material, we recognise that not every archive will currently meet every criterion. We therefore welcome applications from organisations at different stages of their development.
We may choose to award funding to lower scoring applications to achieve a balanced portfolio of different organisation types, sizes and experience in facilitating loans. Your application will help us understand your current circumstances and identify where targeted support may enable your archive to participate, either during this pilot or in the future.
Our supporters
The National Loans Programme is supported by The National Archives Trust and is made possible through the generosity of the Polonsky Foundation, John Ellerman Foundation, the John S Cohen Foundation and the Thriplow Charitable Trust.