The Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art was founded in 1970 through a generous grant from Paul Mellon, KBE to Yale University. We are the sister institution to the Yale Center for British Art, which houses Paul Mellon's collection of British art. (Works of art formerly in Paul Mellon's collection can be found in the following public collections: Yale Center for British Art, New Haven; National Gallery of Art, Washington; Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond).

We are an educational charity registered in Britain and administered by a Director of Studies. The Director of Studies reports annually to the Board of Governors, consisting of officers and faculty of Yale University. Our Advisory Council, comprised of twelve distinguished representatives from the British academic and museum community, meets twice a year to make recommendations on grants and fellowships to be awarded.

We were based at 20 Bloomsbury Square, London WC1, from our foundation in 1970 until 1996, when we moved to our present Grade I listed premises at No 16 Bedford Square, London WC1. Click here to download more information on the history of No 16 Bedford Square.