Franklin Vagnone (Principal—TWISTED PRESERVATION Cultural Consulting, New York City) with a strong background in the creative arts (architecture; design; sculpture), is a Public Historian who has been labeled a “domestic-archeo-anthropologist”. He has over 25 years of transformational leadership in non-profit management, financial oversight, fundraising, strategic planning, board relationships, award-winning cultural program and creative place-making development.
Seen as an international thought leader in innovative and entrepreneurial non-profit management, he has a thoughtful combination of philosophical and practical experiences that have allowed him to consult, lecture, and teach internationally for an extensive list of universities, cultural sites, museums, and community-based membership organisations.
Franklin maintains the blog Twisted Preservation and the series “One Night Stand” overnights in historic house museums, which to date, has readers in over 85 countries. He also moderates international discussion group ”The Anarchist’s Guide to Historic House Museums”.
He has co-authored The Anarchist’s Guide to Historic House Museums (with Ms Deborah Ryan)—a book about innovative concepts for historic cultural sites. The book, now in its 3rd printing since November 2015, was voted best Museum Education-related book of 2015 by Museum Educator’s Monitor, and became #1 bestseller (Museum-related) on Amazon for February 2016.
While Executive Director of major historic house organisations in Philadelphia (The Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks) and New York City (Historic House Trust of New York City), his leadership has been recognised through two Lucy G. Moses awards from the New York Landmarks Conservancy, Award of Excellence from the Greater Hudson Heritage Network, Award of Merit from Museum Association of New York Award, and a Grand Jury Medal from The Philadelphia Preservation Alliance.
In recognition of his sustained work in the museum profession, Franklin was selected for the 2015 Museum Association of New York State—Individual Achievement Award (with Deborah Ryan).