In keeping with the mission of the National Museum of Bhutan, the Museum staff recognizes the growing importance of cultural and heritage preservation in Bhutan both for the Bhutanese people and for sharing it with others.
The ancient nature of the artifacts requires restoration and conservation with a home ac in order to stabilize them and increase their life span. The Museum maintains a team of conservators that pursues innovative research in analytical techniques, preventive conservation and treatment methodologies. The Museum has established a climate controlled conservation laboratory which contains secure storage for conservation materials and chemicals, and a large workroom.
The conservation team has a wide variety of skills that must be applied to preserve artifacts made of materials such as: metal, ceramic, fabric, cane, bamboo, minerals in pigment, animal and bird tissue, wood, and paper among others. The conservation team cooperates with the curatorial team on the identification of works of art, discovering their constituent materials and understanding their age and degradation mechanisms.The conservation team also plays a part in mitigating the environmental conditions of the display and storage areasof the Museum.
Several of the conservators have completed training at international centers of excellence in the United States, Italy, India, South Korea, Norway, and Japan. They are called upon by other cultural institutions in Bhutan to assist in the restoration of important cultural properties.