Emerging Researchers in British Art (ERBA) Opportunity: Research Travel Bursaries

Is there a library, archive, collection or site you need to visit for your research? Do you need to travel to meet with a key contact or attend an event which relates closely to your work?

We are pleased to invite ERBA Members to apply for one of our Research Travel Bursaries to help you with such a trip.

The travel bursary provides up to £250, to help cover transport, accommodation and reasonable expenses.

Applications are open now and close on Monday 14 September, midday BST. Applying is easy – all we need is a short statement of three to five hundred words telling us how you would like to use the funds and the difference this would make to your research, with an indicative budget. You can submit your statement through this form.

How you use the funding is up to you but we would encourage you to be precise in setting out how this trip would benefit your research: we have a limited number of bursaries on offer and will prioritise projects which have a clear sense of purpose and impact (please see below, “How do you decide who gets a bursary?”).

More About This Opportunity

Who can apply?

You need to be a Member of ERBA to apply for this opportunity. If you are not yet a Member but think ERBA could be right for you, you are welcome to apply here and you can let us know your membership is pending when you submit your application.

How can I use the funds?

The bursary needs to be used to support a specific trip. This might be going to a gallery, museum or collection, visiting a site, or travelling to meet with someone important to your research. You could also use it to attend an event which relates directly to your research, though you will need to be able to provide details on why that’s the case, and the bursary couldn’t be used to cover attendance fees or membership costs. We would ask that you consider the environmental impact of your form of travel in making your plans.

Eligible costs would include:

• standard class travel
• mileage at 45p per mile
• local travel (public transport or taxis where necessary)
• accommodation (typically not more than £120 per night)
• reasonable expenses (not more than £60 per full day)

If there are other ways that the bursary could be put to use by you, do ask and we can review eligibility before you put in your application.

When do I need to use the bursary?

We would ask that you use the funding between November 2026 and April 2027 (inclusive). We will be offering further rounds of bursaries so if your plans extend beyond that date you may be able to apply nearer the time.

Can I combine this bursary with other sources of support?

Yes, you can use this bursary as part-funding towards a trip. However, you will need to make this clear in your application and explain what specific difference this bursary would make to your plans. This is a kind of micro-grant intended to facilitate focused activity, so you should make your application with this in mind.

I have access requirements; will you cover those costs?

We have funds to support access requirements, so you don’t need to include these in your application. Just contact us before you submit your application to find out more and check how we can help.

Do I need to provide a budget?

We would ask that you outline the likely costs in your application – this can include estimates if you don’t have the full details to hand.

How do you decide who gets a bursary?

All applications will be reviewed and scored independently by members of the Paul Mellon Centre (PMC) team and by the ERBA Convenor, who will together agree the successful applicants. Their judgement will be based on the content of the application, considering the following criteria:

• Focus and sense of purpose – is this set out clearly in the application?
• Originality and contribution to the field – is this distinctive research which is likely to have an impact in the context of British art studies?
• Need and timeliness– would this bursary make a significant difference to the applicant’s research? Does the activity need to happen now or could it wait?
• Feasibility – based on what is set out in the applicant’s statement, are they likely to be able to achieve what they are setting out to do?
• Value for money and sustainability – is there evidence that the travel plan has been reasoned through, including considering environmental impact?

What are the reporting requirements?

Bursary holders will need to provide a brief report (up to five hundred words) after their trip, detailing how they used the funding and sharing any learning or observations. You will not need to provide receipts or detailed accounts, although we may ask for these to justify your spending if there are any questions, so we would recommend that you retain these. We may also ask you to contribute something to a future ERBA mailing or web content, which can be based on your report.

Do you have other questions or need to know more?

Just get in touch with Rosie Jennings, Networks & Learning Administrator, networks@paul-mellon-centre.ac.uk

Key Dates

Applications due: Monday 14 September, midday BST

Assessment: until Friday 2 October

Decisions: week beginning Monday 5 October

Reporting: end of May 2027

How to apply

Please complete this form by Monday 14 September, midday BST.

If you have any questions, do get in touch with Rosie Jennings, Networks & Learning Administrator, networks@paul-mellon-centre.ac.uk