Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art Curatorial Research Grants

The Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art offers a variety of Fellowships (for individuals) and Grants (for institutions and individuals) twice a year in a strictly timetabled schedule.  The programme supports scholarship, academic research and the dissemination of knowledge in the field of British art and architectural history from the medieval period to the present, although all supported topics must have an historical perspective.  

We do not offer fellowships and grants in the fields of archaeology, the current practice of architecture or the performing arts. We have no discretionary funds outside our stated programme.

Scope

Curatorial Research Grants are offered annually. They are awarded to institutions, galleries or museums to help towards the costs of appointing a Research Curator to undertake research for a specific project. This can be for: 

• research towards an exhibition or installation of British art or architectural history, or related topic
• a cataloguing project on part of a collection or archive which will result in a printed or online catalogue
• an online exhibition or curation of a digital project relating to British art or architectural history, or related topic

Alternatively an institution may apply for a Curatorial Research Grant to provide replacement staff costs to provide temporary cover for a curatorial staff member to work on a specific exhibition or cataloguing project.

Funding

Curatorial Project Research Grants are offered for up to two years at a maximum of £20,000 per annum. Institutions should be aware that, due to the heavy demand in this category of grant, awards are often made for considerably less than the maximum figure or for fewer years than requested. It is advisable, therefore, in any two-year application to indicate what is expected to be achieved within each year.

Applications for the support of part-time curatorial researchers are welcome.

It should be noted that the Centre does not pay full economic costs. Only one Curatorial Research Grant application per institution will be considered each year. The institution should give details of any financial support already in place or funding expected or being sought from other sources.

Outcomes

The institution must provide details of the expected outcomes of the project. Curatorial research might result in an exhibition (physical or virtual), an exhibition catalogue, or a printed or online catalogue of part of a collection/archive. The Centre particularly welcomes applications from institutions whose aim is to provide open access to their collections and resources.

This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:

http://www.paul-mellon-centre.ac.uk/fellowships-and-grants/opportunities/curatorial-research-grants/season/autumn-2016