Trisha Carleton

Background

About Trisha Carleton

The true role of museums is to serve—communities, memory, and future generations. With 20+ years in the museum and not-for-profit sector, I’ve worked in diverse institutions from small heritage sites to provincial museums, honing the ability to set vision, guide teams, and deliver results in resource-constrained environments. My leadership work ensures museums function as cultural hubs that honour and reflect many voices. MUSEUM EXPERTISE From Curator to Executive Director, I bring a community-centred leadership approach that prioritizes service to all communities, especially those historically underserved. Known for improving systems, building partnerships, and developing staff, I lead with curiosity and accountability to deliver growth, advance reconciliation, and strengthen public trust. My expertise stretches across: • Strategic Leadership: Aligning departmental priorities with mission and standards; managing collections storage, digitization, and exhibition development. • Reconciliation & Indigenous Engagement: Embedding TRC-aligned policy, rem/repatriation protocols, and community-led stewardship. • Exhibition Strategy & Co-Curation: Advancing scholarship and creativity while ensuring exhibits reflect diverse voices. • Financial Stewardship: Securing grants, managing budgets, and building efficient systems for sustainability. • People Leadership: Building staff capacity, mentoring teams and volunteers, and fostering collaborative cultures in unionized environments. • Research Leadership: Conducting and supporting applied research that integrates multiple ways of knowing and informs exhibitions. MEASURED RESULTS Secured $156K+ in grants as Executive Director, driving a 600% increase in events and 300% growth in partnerships. Introduced operational plans as Curator that improved project completion by 20% and co-launched a pop-up exhibition program expanding community access. Authored a collections policy grounded in Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations. Advised a storage redesign for 1M+ artifacts, reclaiming space, improving preservation, and creating culturally safe solutions for Indigenous belongings. VISION & COMMITMENT I am dedicated to advancing museums as leaders in reconciliation, ethical stewardship, and cultural dialogue. Grounded in continuous learning and best practices, my role as a leader and director of research / collections / exhibitions ensures financial resilience, operational excellence, and public trust.