Arts Happen Here!

The title of this article is the tag line for the Cultural District Committee, as they work toward the establishment of a Cultural District in Franklin. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts established a process through which cities and towns may apply for Cultural District status. The Town of Franklin Cultural District Committee in the process of applying for Cultural District status and one step in the process is the Franklin Cultural Festival, which is scheduled for July 29 to August 2, 2015. 

Franklin Cultural Festival - Arts Happen Here!

When Anita Walker, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, visited Franklin in November 2013, she noted that, “A cultural district is a specific walkable area in the community with a concentration of cultural buildings and activities. Cultural districts aim to attract artists and cultural enterprises to the community, encourage business and job development, establish tourist destinations, preserve and reuse historic buildings, enhance property values and foster local cultural development.” 

This summer, the Cultural Festival will focus its efforts throughout downtown Franklin and beyond, including Dean College, the Franklin Public Library, the Town Common, and the Horace Mann Middle School. The activities will be clustered each day to increase the walkability of the proposed cultural district while simultaneously highlighting the activities and events in the performing arts, the fine arts and the culinary arts. 

The next meeting of the Cultural District Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, May 5 at 7:00 PM at THE BLACK BOX. For more information, contact the Cultural District Committee via email at FranklinCulturalDistrict@gmail.com.