About MEAA
About Us
Located just minutes from Bath’s Royal Crescent and The Circus, The Museum of East Asian Art (MEAA) is the UK’s only museum dedicated to the arts and cultures of East and South East Asia. Housed within a restored Georgian townhouse, MEAA offers visitors a unique and tranquil space filled with rare collections.
Since its opening in April 1993, MEAA has attracted a diverse audience, including tourists, scholars, and students. The museum boasts a remarkable collection of nearly 2,000 sets of objects from East and South East Asia. Its Chinese art collection is particularly extensive, spanning from 5,000 BC to the present day. This includes ceramics, jades, bronzes, and exceptional Chinese bamboo and wood carvings—some of the finest in European collections.
MEAA regularly hosts special exhibitions and a rich events programme, furthering its mission to foster a deeper understanding of East and South East Asian arts and cultures.
The Founder
The Museum of East Asian Art is an independent museum, founded by Brian McElney OBE, a distinguished former lawyer and long-time resident of Hong Kong.
Brian’s passion for Chinese art was ignited in London, where he acquired his first piece in 1955—a 17th-century gilt brass Sakyamuni Buddha. Despite modest means at the time, he dedicated himself to the study and collection of Chinese art, beginning with blue and white porcelain and later expanding to a diverse range of objects.
After retiring to the UK, Brian donated his collection to establish the Museum, which opened in 1993 as an educational charity. Over the years, the collection has grown through long-term loans and generous public donations.
Mission Statement
As the UK’s only museum dedicated solely to East and South East Asian arts and cultures, MEAA is committed to fostering appreciation and understanding of these rich traditions.
Our collection spans over 7,000 years of artistry and craftsmanship, preserving and exhibiting artefacts that showcase the region’s cultural heritage. We strive to make our collection accessible to all, offering engaging learning opportunities, exhibitions, and cultural experiences that inspire education, creativity, dialogue, and research.
Find Us
To change the find us section please go to the theme settings.
Contact Details
The Museum of East Asian Art,
12 Bennett Street,
Bath
UK
BA1 2QJ
Telephone
+44(0) 1225 464640
info@meaa.org.uk