The National Lottery has launched a new initiative called the Heritage Tombola, designed to fund projects to conserve and restore heritage assets in Belgium. With a budget of up to 600,000 euros for its first edition, this operation aims to provide practical support for cultural players.
A new model for protecting the collective memory
At a time when many cultural assets are in urgent need of restoration and public funding is under pressure, a new support mechanism is emerging: mobilising national solidarity through a tombola dedicated to safeguarding heritage. Supported by the National Lottery, the project brings together several major players in the cultural and philanthropic world: Prométhéa, the Institut royal du Patrimoine artistique and MuseumPASSmusées. Together, they intend to create a concrete lever for preserving heritage assets that are sometimes fragile, sometimes little-known, but always meaningful.
For this first edition, a total budget of up to 600,000 euros is planned. This is a modest sum in relation to the needs of our heritage, but a significant one for targeted projects that are often faced with difficulties in obtaining rapid funding. The projects selected will not only receive financial support, but also tailor-made assistance. Whether it’s restoring objects, promoting them to the public, developing accessible stories or creating partnerships, the initiative is part of an overall approach to enhancing our heritage.
Supporting heritage assets that are often invisible
Unlike major campaigns to restore iconic monuments, the Heritage Tombola focuses mainly on movable assets: works of art, historical objects, archives, scientific or craft items. Movable property is often the most vulnerable: it is subject to the effects of time, requires specific expertise and rarely has dedicated funding. By putting them at the heart of the call for projects, the organisers are seeking to broaden the very definition of heritage. It’s no longer just about preserving buildings, but also the material traces of community life.
A rationale of social reinvestment
The initiative is in line with the company’s philosophy of reinvesting all profits in initiatives with a social impact. In this way, the organiser underlines its desire to devote its resources to initiatives that make a difference to society.
Project sponsors now have a clear timetable for submitting their applications. The deadline for applications is 1 April 2026. Associations, cultural institutions, collection managers and foundations are invited to submit conservation or restoration initiatives.
Every object restored, every collection safeguarded, every story told is an act of transmission. Through this initiative, the organisers are inviting the general public to become part of this continuity. Because preserving our heritage is not just about conserving traces of the past. It’s about choosing what we want to pass on to future generations.