In a remarkable gesture of support for the arts, billionaire collector Mitchell Rales has pledged an impressive $116 million to the National Gallery of Art (NGA) in Washington, D.C. This substantial donation aims to ensure the longevity of the Art Across the Nation program, which was launched last spring to facilitate the lending of artworks from the NGA's extensive collection to regional museums across the United States.
Initially, the NGA, with Rales' backing, committed to lending up to ten artworks to partner institutions in states including Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Utah, and Washington. This initiative covers all expenses related to travel, installation, insurance, and marketing, making art more accessible to diverse audiences.
Rales, who co-founded the science and technology firm Danaher Corporation in 1984, has been a dedicated art collector since the 1980s. His collection is prominently displayed at Glenstone, a private museum in Potomac, Maryland, which he established with his former wife, Emily Wei Rales, in 2006.
This generous contribution coincides with the 250th anniversary of the United States, reflecting Rales' admiration for the NGA's commitment to sharing artistic excellence nationwide. In his statement, he emphasized, "I have long admired the National Gallery's commitment to national service and sharing artistic excellence with all people."
As a trustee of the National Gallery since 2006 and president of the board from 2019 to 2024, Rales has championed the importance of making art accessible to the public. He noted, "We have an incredible asset base in the form of 160,000 works of art, most of which end up in storage for long periods of time, because you just can't show it all." His vision is to enhance the national presence of the NGA and to encourage broader public engagement with art.
The first cycle of the Art Across the Nation initiative, which features remarkable pieces such as works by Georgia O'Keeffe and Rembrandt, will conclude in 2027. Following this, a new cycle will commence from 2027 to 2029, with additional partner museums set to be announced, further expanding the reach of this transformative program.