Founder and President, Museum Crafters

Karen S. Coltrane

Museum Crafters is led by Karen S. Coltrane, a museum executive and advisor who brings the operator's perspective to museum planning: not just what a museum will look like, but how it will function, earn revenue, serve families, and sustain its mission.

Discuss Your Museum Project

Prior executive career

Museum leadership

The EdVenture building in Columbia, SC, with an airplane nose mounted on its facade

EdVenture, Columbia, SC

President and CEO · [years]

Took the museum out of debt for the first time in its history
Led a merger with a museum across the state
Opened a satellite location between the two

[Children's museum], Richmond, VA

[Title] · [years]

[Verified opening, expansion, or campaign result]
[Verified operating result]

Broader leadership

35+ years of nonprofit leadership, five CEO roles
Higher education, healthcare, trade associations, human services
Former national board member, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

Judgment and working style

How operating experience shapes the advice

[Two to three short paragraphs in Karen's voice: balancing mission, visitor experience, and financial performance; why the business model comes before design; what she learned running museums day to day.]

A children's museum farm and market exhibit with a play kitchen, produce stands and a timber-frame canopy

Working directly with Karen

[How engagements run: who clients work with, meeting rhythm, site visits.]

When specialists join

[When independent architects, exhibit designers, or researchers are brought in, and how they are coordinated.]

Education and credentials

Leadership & Organizational Development

The Citadel

Economics

College of William & Mary

BoardSource-Certified

Governance Consultant

Adjunct Faculty

College of Charleston School of Business

What does your museum project need next?

Discuss Your Museum Project