Call for Artists, Cultural District Guide DEADLINE MARCH 1, 2026

Franklin Welcomes the World

Call for Artists, Cultural District Guide 
DEADLINE MARCH 1, 2026

For Summer 2026, the Cultural District will be printing more copies than ever before and distributing them widely through:

• Hotels and lodging partners
• Restaurants, cafes, and retail businesses
• Public spaces and community hubs
• Regional visitor centers and partner organizations

The guides will highlight arts, culture, dining, small businesses, public spaces, and seasonal events, positioning Franklin as both a destination and a community—not just a place people pass through.

Being featured means your work will be:

• Seen by thousands of visitors and residents
• Part of a cohesive, professionally produced marketing effort
• Directly supporting Franklin’s creative economy and local businesses

These guides are designed to reflect the real character of Franklin, told through the voices and visuals of the people who know it best—our artists, writers, and creatives.

Who Can Apply

This call is open to creatives with a Franklin connection, including those who:

• Live or work in Franklin
• Grew up here or studied here
• Create here regularly
• Have personal or professional ties to the community

Timeline

Submission Deadline: March 1, 2026

Guide Release: May 2026

How to Submit

Email the following to Cory Shea, Director of Arts, Culture & the Creative Economy, at cshea@franklinma.gov with the subject line: "FCD Creative Submission"

Please include:

• Visual artists: 3–5 work samples (JPEG or PDF)
• Writers: 1–2 written pieces (under 250 words each)
• A short bio or artist statement (whichever best fits your work)
• A brief note on your Franklin connection

Franklin Welcomes the World - June 25 & June 26 (part 2)

Community Engagement on the Town Common & Haywood Manor Beer Garden Overview

Geared towards community organizations and businesses. Tier 2 builds on Tier 1 by providing a physical presence at the festivities events on the Franklin Town Common and/or Haywood Manor Beer Garden; giving businesses and organizations the opportunity to host community-focused activities during the events, or sell their retail goodies on June 25–26. All Tier 1 benefits apply, including inclusion in the digital hub, print guide, and town-wide promotion.

Types of Community Engagement:

Vendors

•  Vendors participate to sell goods or services directly to the public at events on the Town Common or at Haywood Manor.
•  Examples include: food trucks, retail vendors, artisans selling handmade goods, or small businesses offering products.

Community Partners

•  Community partners pay for a space to host an activity, demonstrate their mission, or engage the public—not to sell products.
•  Examples include: local nonprofits, arts organizations, cultural associations, youth programs, educational groups, or civic clubs.

Fee Information

•  Vendor and community partner fees will vary based on the type of participation.
•  Fees and official registration will be published on the Town of Franklin website by March 1st.

Fee Purpose

Vendor and community partner fees help cover essential event costs; including the FIFA public viewing license required to stream the matches legally, as well as police/security details for the events.

Special Note – Farmers Market Vendors

Vendors already approved for the Franklin Farmers Market may participate in community engagement events without paying an additional fee. DACCE will coordinate with market staff to ensure vendor placement, setup times, and operations align with both market and watch party activities.

Participation & Submission for Vendor & Community Partners

Email Cory Shea, to be alerted of when the community engagement and vendor application officially opens on the Town of Franklin website.

Download the playbook for both Part 1 & Part 2

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19Xa9h_6rTqvmZJ9dnASwz1y39m4rGPrn/view?usp=drive_link

Franklin Welcomes The World - June 25 & June 26

The Town of Franklin will host two days of festivities celebrating the international soccer games playing at neighboring Gillette Stadium. These events will take place on June 25 and June 26 on the Franklin Town Common and at one of our community partner locations, Haywood Manor.

The festivities will include live streamed games on a large screen; enabling viewing from the Town Common and the Haywood lawn; as well as community vendors, food trucks and live music. These free, community-centered days are designed to create a welcoming, festive atmosphere for residents and visitors while supporting downtown activity and cultural tourism.

Programming is also part of the broader ‘Franklin Welcomes the World’ marketing campaign, reinforcing Franklin’s role as a regional gathering place during a global event.

Viewing party & Community Engagement Primary Location:

Franklin Town Common & Hayward Manor

LED screen viewing area with open lawn seating at Haywood Manor; will host outdoor viewing, including a beer garden component (pending licensing and approvals).

Watch Party/Festivity Timeline: 3-9pm June 25th+26th Streamed games:

Thursday, June 25

•   4pm Ecuador v Germany
•   7pm Tunisia v Netherlands
•   10pm USA - Go watch elsewhere!   

Friday, June 26

•   3pm Norway v France
•   8pm Uruguay v Spain

Community Engagement Elements | Vendors & Community Partners

Presented on the Town Common and Haywood Manor. Note that the beer garden is at Haywood Manor only, and no alcohol is permitted on the Town Common.

• Live music performances before and/or after matches
• Community Partners/Vendors on the Town Common
• Food trucks
• Wayfinding and signage connecting the Common, downtown, and partner locations + ‘Franklin Welcomes the World’ marketing campaign

Estimated Attendance

Projected total attendance: 1,000–1,500 visitors over two days, Audience includes: Franklin residents, Regional visitors attending Gillette matches,

Families, young adults, and soccer fans.

Economic Development Subcmte spends 3 hours in discussion on Wednesday (audio)

FM #1480 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1480 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of the Economic Development Subcommittee meeting on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 in the 3rd Floor Training Room. 

3 members were present and participated in the first agenda item. Once that was complete, the 4th member, Cobi Frongillo joined them for the remainder of the session. He had recused himself from the Crossing Neighborhood District discussion to avoid a conflict of interest. His father's business is located in that potential district.

Quick recap:

Item 1 - Crossing Neighborhood

• TA Jamie Hellen provides the overview of the background on the proposal for the Crossing Neighborhood. Multiple zoning bylaws make up the "package" to work together. Direct link to the memo providing the overview https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/6226/1a-DPCD-Memo---Crossing-Neighborhood-Zoning-District---71625

• Hamblen looks at this as a "mini downtown commercial". She raises an issue on 3 family by right, J Halligan notes that the current bylaw actually includes the proper language; apparently in the draft, the section language got left out. It can be included (and should) without vote to modify this. An oversight on version control. This identifies a couple of updates to the online zoning codes as they were changed just not reflected in the current versions

• After much discussion

• Motion to amend 2.3 8a from no to planning board special permit Passes 3-0

• Motion to move to Town council as amended, second passes 3-0

Item 2 - Use Variances

• Discussion on Recommendation on eliminating “Use Variances” from the authority within the Zoning Board of Appeals

• Discussion on elimination of use variance from approval by the ZBA, which in those cases tend to overstep their authority; the restriction was intentionally made by the zoning bylaws with PB and Council approval and then the ZBA can act on their own...

• After much discussion, Motion to move to council for further discussion (Jones)

• Not seconded, hence the move does not take place. There will be some discussion overall on this topic in a positive manner per Hamblen

Item 3 - update on World Cup

• FIFA requirements will host the fan center in Boston. We are still figuring out what we can do. Artificial Turf fields are not used by international games (Gillette is redone with real grass for international games)

• Lots of other events at the same time; Highland games, Tall Ships, etc

• Marketing via MetroWest on the benefits of Franklin. Hotel outreach, transportation planning needed; Porchfest, 4th of July also in similar time frames... Found in Franklin market for goods, crafts

Item 4 - EDC goals

• On the one hand, given the length of the meeting and discussions there seemed little interest in this item; only one member Frongillo was prepared with a short list of priorities

• Recognition from TA Hellen that until B Taberner's replacement is hired, there is very little staff to do the additional work

Motion to adjourn, passes 4-0

The recording of the meeting runs about 3 hours.   

Audio link ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1480-economic-development-subcmte-mtg-07-16-25/

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Economic Development Subcmte mtg

Franklin TV video replay is available -> https://www.youtube.com/live/6hKdQIw9rpQ 

The EDC agenda and supporting documents

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07162025-1818 

My full set of notes in one PDF -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ME-F_qCpL61vAQz0NeBnFDIakEXX3mzO/view?usp=drive_link

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know 

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Economic Development Subcmte spends 3 hours in discussion on Wednesday (video)

The Economic Development Subcommittee met on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 in the 3rd Floor Training room. 3 members were present and participated in the first agenda item. Once that was complete, the 4th member, Cobi Frongillo joined them for the remainder of the session. He had recused himself from the Crossing Neighborhood District discussion to avoid a conflict of interest. His father's business is located in that potential district.

Franklin TV video replay is available -> https://www.youtube.com/live/6hKdQIw9rpQ

The EDC agenda and supporting documents

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07162025-1818 

Quick recap:

Item 1 - Crossing Neighborhood

• TA Jamie Hellen provides the overview of the background on the proposal for the Crossing Neighborhood. Multiple zoning bylaws make up the "package" to work together. Direct link to the memo providing the overview https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/6226/1a-DPCD-Memo---Crossing-Neighborhood-Zoning-District---71625
• Hamblen looks at this as a "mini downtown commercial". She raises an issue on 3 family by right, J Halligan notes that the current bylaw actually includes the proper language; apparently in the draft, the section language got left out. It can be included (and should) without vote to modify this. An oversight on version control. This identifies a couple of updates to the online zoning codes as they were changed just not reflected in the current versions
• After much discussion
• Motion to amend 2.3 8a from no to planning board special permit Passes 3-0
• Motion to move to Town council as amended, second passes 3-0

Item 2 - Use Variances

• Discussion on Recommendation on eliminating “Use Variances” from the authority within the Zoning Board of Appeals
• Discussion on elimination of use variance from approval by the ZBA, which in those cases tend to overstep their authority; the restriction was intentionally made by the zoning bylaws with PB and Council approval and then the ZBA can act on their own...
• After much discussion, Motion to move to council for further discussion (Jones)
• Not seconded, hence the move does not take place. There will be some discussion overall on this topic in a positive manner per Hamblen

Item 3 - update on World Cup

• FIFA requirements will host the fan center in Boston. We arestill figuring out what we can do. Artificial Turf fields are not used by international games (Gilletteis redone with real grass for international games)
• Lots of other events at the same time; Highland games, Tall Ships, etc
• Marketing via MetroWest on the benefits of Franklin. Hotel outreach, transportation planning needed; Porchfest, 4th of July also in similar time frames... Found in Franklin market for goods, crafts

Item 4 - EDC goals

• On the one hand, given the length of the meeting and discussions there seemed little interest in this item; only one member Frongillo was prepared with a short list of priorities
• Recognition from TA Hellen that until B Taberner's replacement is hired, there is very little staff to do the additional work

Motion to adjourn, passes 4-0

My full set of notes in one PDF -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ME-F_qCpL61vAQz0NeBnFDIakEXX3mzO/view?usp=drive_link

EDC discussion on first item (Frongillo recused)

Scam Alert: How to buy World Cup tickets that aren’t fake

Scam Alert: How to buy World Cup tickets that aren't fake by Alvaro Puig Consumer Education Specialist, FTC The 2018 World Cup kicks off on June 14, 2018 in Moscow. Soccer's rising stars like Argentina's Paulo Dybala, France's Kylian Mbappé, and Brazil's Gabriel Jesus will join World Cup veterans Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Suárez, Isco, Toni Kroos, Neymar, and Lionel Messi to vie for the coveted World Cup trophy. If you're looking to buy World Cup tickets, here's what you need to know about buying official match tickets and avoiding a fake ticket scam. Read more This is a free service provided by the Federal Trade Commission.

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