Deadline: 30-Sep-2025
The Author Small Grants Programme offers funding to individuals to help cover costs associated with producing scholarly work on British art and architecture. The aim is to support activities that expand and deepen knowledge of British art, while also encouraging inclusion of voices and perspectives that have historically been underrepresented in the field.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to ensure that the histories of British art become more relevant and inclusive in the future. As such, applications from individuals who are underrepresented in the UK humanities academic community are especially welcome.
Grants are available up to a maximum of £2,000, provided in a single payment. Each individual may submit only one application per round. If the grant is being used to support a shorter written piece such as a journal article or book chapter, eligible costs include licensing and copyright fees for images, commissioning new photography, or creating graphics.
The programme supports research, education, and knowledge sharing in British art and architectural history, spanning from the medieval era to the present. It includes art made in Britain or by British artists but is not confined to geographical boundaries. Instead, it takes a broad view of British art studies and welcomes diverse topics and contexts related to Britain’s artistic and cultural histories.
The programme does not fund projects in field archaeology, contemporary architectural practice, or the performing arts. However, applications in areas such as photography, performance, film, and digital media are eligible if they clearly relate to British art studies.
Organisations seeking support for exhibition catalogues should apply for the Exhibition Publication Grant. Individuals needing over £2,000 in support should apply under the Author Grant (Large). Applicants may only submit one publication grant application per round.
The written work should be scheduled for publication no later than two years from January 2026. The programme does not support work that has already been published or is set to be published before the end of 2025. For article submissions, applicants must ensure that the piece has been accepted by a journal before applying.
Because the number of strong applications is expected to exceed the available funding, decisions will be guided by a range of criteria. These include academic rigour, originality, long-term scholarly contribution, relevance to current events or opportunities, and whether the research addresses previously unsupported contexts or communities. Consideration is also given to the project’s overall feasibility, the need for funding, and its potential to enhance inclusivity and impact within the field.
Successful applicants must send a copy of the publication to the PMC upon release. The PMC must also be properly acknowledged in the published work, following specific guidelines that will be provided.
For more information, visit Paul Mellon Centre.
