The funding will help deliver a “year of culture” in 2026, featuring a 12-month programme of arts, heritage, and community projects across the borough.
It follows previous funding wins, including a £200,000 Cultural Impact Award from the Greater London Authority and £100,000 from Arts Council England.
Councillor Anne Clarke, cabinet member for culture, leisure, arts, and sport, said: “This £250,000 of funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund will ensure we have the resources to put on a spectacular programme of cultural events that will bring together our communities to celebrate our heritage and the best of what makes Barnet unique.
“It will also help to put Barnet on the capital’s cultural map and be a huge boost for our creative economy.
“The festival will be a powerful, inclusive platform for cultural exchange, unity and imagination, bringing together diverse voices and fostering the pioneers of tomorrow.”
The programme will include major projects and a Community Heritage Fund, giving local groups the chance to bid for support.
It will conclude in November 2026 with a free arts and heritage festival held in town centres across Barnet.
Plans include musical performances, artistic commissions, and community-led events designed to showcase the borough’s cultural diversity and history.
Stuart McLeod, director of England – London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We’re delighted to support Barnet’s year of culture, a celebration of the borough’s rich and diverse heritage.
“At the Heritage Fund, we believe in the power of heritage to bring communities together, inspire creativity, and foster pride in place.
“Thanks to National Lottery players, this year-long programme will epitomise this, helping people across Barnet connect with the fascinating heritage on their doorstep.”
The funding supports Barnet Council’s wider vision to raise its cultural profile within London.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the UK’s largest dedicated funder of heritage projects, aiming to invest £3.6 billion over the next decade to benefit people, places, and communities.
