Conservation Research Project Grants

Conservation Research Project Grants are specifically designed to help institutions, galleries or museums support original and innovative conservation research. It may be used towards the costs of supporting a conservator or research scholar undertaking a conservation research project or technical analysis which will lead to a research project.

Applicants must demonstrate that any project will include scholarly research within the scope of the work, and that this research will have a significant impact on the field of British art studies more broadly.

Conservation Research Project Grants are offered for up to a maximum of £25,000 to cover the full length of the project. Applications for less than £25,000 are also eligible.

An institution may apply for a Conservation Research Project Grants to cover freelance staff costs or to provide replacement staff costs and give temporary cover for a staff member to work on the research project. The funds can also be used to support research travel and other research-related costs.

Up to thirty-three percent of the proposed project budget may be allotted to practical costs such as transportation and packing, specialist equipment or the digitisation of resources.

The award will be paid directly to the institution as a lump sum only.

The institution should give details of any financial support already in place or funding expected, or being sought, from other sources.

Our funding programme supports research, educational activities and the dissemination of knowledge in the fields of British art and architectural history, from the medieval period to the present day and across the spectrum of relevant geographical and cultural contexts. Our remit is broadly defined and adapts as the interests of those working in our field change. It encompasses art made in Britain or by British artists, but is not solely limited to art made, or artists from, within the geographical boundaries of the British isles. Rather we understand the field of British art studies to encompass a broad range of subjects and topics related to the artistic and cultural histories of Britain, past and present.

We do not offer grants and fellowships in field archaeology, the current practice of architecture or the performing arts. Applications in the fields of photography, performance, film and digital media will need to demonstrate their relevance to British art studies.

Applications are open to international as well as UK institutions.

For further questions on eligibility please contact the Grants & Fellowships Manager at grants@paul-mellon-centre.ac.uk.

Conservation Research Project Grants are offered in our autumn round of funding.

The Autumn 2023 round of funding is now open. The closing date is Friday 6th October at 11:59pm.

To apply for a Conservation Research Project Grants, you must use our online system at grants.paul-mellon-centre.ac.uk. Once registered you will be able to fill out the online application form (an example of which can be downloaded below) and provide the details of two referees. The option to provide the referee details will be available once the application is submitted. We will then contact the nominated referees with details on how they can submit their references which must be completed through our online system and must be no more than five hundred words.

Referees ideally should have specialist knowledge of the topic and subject matter and/or have first-hand knowledge of the nominated individual's academic career. Referees can also provide information about the institution or department's ability to undertake the research. The Advisory Council would like to be informed of the originality of the subject matter and the applicant’s suitability to pursue such research. We do not accept references from individuals who are directly involved in the project or individuals who are affiliated with the institution (employee, trustee etc.) unless it is a large institution, such as a university, and the individual is not personally associated with the project. If you have any questions about your choice of referee, please contact Grants & Fellowships Manager at grants@paul-mellon-centre.ac.uk.

Applications and nominated referee details must be received by the application deadline; referees have an extra ten days after the deadline to submit their references.

• Due to the large amount of funding offered, institutions should provide a comprehensive and detailed timeline and budget in their application.
• Applications involving more than one organisation can be considered, although one partner must be identified as the lead organisation and will receive the grant if successful.
• Applicants will be asked to declare any ethical considerations relating to their project, and how these would be addressed.
• The applicant must provide details of the expected outcomes of the project in the application and their impact on the field of British art studies more broadly.
• Projects are expected to be completed within two years of the awarding of the grant.
• The institution must provide annual reports on the project’s progress until completion and a final report six months after the project has been completed.