WASHINGTON, DC.- A $5 million gift from Gretchen Welch and Career Ambassador David Welch to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art has endowed the leadership position in the museum’s Department of Conservation and Scientific Research. This endowment will support the newly named Welch Head of Conservation and Scientific Research. The endowed position will help ensure that the department maintains its longstanding excellence and scholarship in the field and continues to advance conservation and scientific research worldwide. As the foremost center in the United States for the care and scientific study of the arts of Asia, the department plays an important role in preserving cultural heritage, bringing new insights to historic objects and training the next generation of conservators.

This leadership gift benefits the National Museum of Asian Art's Second Century Campaign. The Second Century Campaign is part of the Smithsonian Campaign for Our Shared Future, which is securing funds for all Smithsonian museums, libraries, education, outreach and research centers and the National Zoo in support of a single, bold vision: to build a better future for all.

Following the July 2024 retirement of Donna Strahan, a highly regarded scholar-conservator who served as department head for 10 years, an international search for candidates for the Welch Head of Conservation and Scientific Research will begin in fall 2024. Over the past 10 years, the department has grown from nine to 15 conservators, scientists and specialists in project management and outreach.

“I want to thank the Welch family for this generous gift,” said Chase F. Robinson, the museum’s director. “The National Museum of Asian Art has the immense privilege and responsibility of caring for one of the world’s most important collections of Asian art—more than 46,000 objects, which tell important stories of culture, history and people. Our department of conservation and scientific research has always been crucial to our mission. This gift recognizes the department’s tireless work behind the scenes to preserve these objects for generations to come—and to produce groundbreaking research that deepens our collective understanding of Asia and the world.”

This new gift builds on the Welch family’s ongoing support of the museum and its conservation and scientific research department. In addition to her service on the museum’s board of trustees, Gretchen Welch has been an active National Museum of Asian Art docent since 2017. In 2021, the Welches created the Gretchen and David Welch Conservator in Training position, which supports the education of the next generation of conservators. Both retired diplomats, the Welches are committed to supporting the arts, education and diplomacy.