Franklin Cultural District: Announces the Investment Fund Grant Awards

January 2, 2025

Volume 5, January 2, 2025 Congratulations! Cultural District Investment Fund Grants Awarded In fall, 2024, the Massachusetts Cultural Council awarded the Franklin Cultural District Committee a $15,000 Cultural District Investment Grant. This grant, one of several awarded to state-sponsored cultural districts, is intended to infuse new arts and culture activities and to attract creative businesses to the cultural districts. The Franklin Cultural District Committee voted to reserve a portion of the grant funds for FCDC-directed work and offer the remainder, in the form of grants,  to Franklin arts and culture organizations.  The Franklin Cultural District Committee (FCDC) is honored to announce the grants made possible by MCC Cultural District Investment Grant funds. The FCDC, in concert with the Town of Franklin Department of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy, offers its sincere congratulations to all who received a grant. The FCDC looks forward to seeing these grant-funded initiatives come to life through performances, events, and more. The FCDC gratefully acknowledges the MCC and its generous grant that made these local grants possible, appreciates the leadership of the Franklin Department of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy, and recognizes the continued support of the Town of Franklin. Below, please find a list of funded grants and a link to the organizations' websites. Some of these events will take place in the late spring or early summer. As a result, information pertaining to the grant-funded activity may not appear on the website until closer to the date. However, many of the organizations have other events and activities that may be of interest at this time. FY25 Cultural District Grant Awards Franklin Art Association: To contribute toward the cost of "Fakes and Forgeries" event during June 2025. ($400) Children's Museum of Franklin: To add a mural to the back wall of the Museum, currently under construction. The mural will be created by a local artist. ($600) Select Museum to learn more. Franklin Farmers Market: To provide entertainment at the Franklin Farmers Market during June 2025. ($1,100) Select Market for information.  Franklin Historical Commission: A second and expanded presentation of "A Community Rediscovery of Ideas, Literature, and the Shared Gift of Language. " This month-long presentation celebrates the life and many contributions of Franklin's namesake, Dr. Benjamin Franklin. Select Ben for event information. ($1,100) The Ben activities begin Saturday, January 4 at the Historical Museum. Franklin LGBTQ Alliance: To subsidize a small portion of the costs associated with the June Celebrate with Pride festival. ($1,030) Select LGBTQ for information about this organization. Franklin Performing Arts Company: To subsidize a small portion of the costs associated with the June 6 – 8, 2025 performance of Little Women at THE BLACK BOX.($1,100) Select FPAC for ticketing and performance information. Franklin Public Library: A concert by the Boston Typewriter Orchestra, April 2025. ($750) A concert by the Blackstone Valley String Quartet, performing the music of Taylor Swift. ($600) Select Library for event information. Franklin Public Schools, JFK and Parmenter Elementary Schools: To bring music, dance, the arts and more cultural diversity to JF Kennedy and Parmenter Schools (where Ms. MacMurray is the music faculty member). ($1,000) Select FPS Music for more information.  Franklin Public Schools Music Department, and the Franklin Public Schools: To contribute toward the purchase of needed quality string instruments to rebuild and strengthen middle school string program. ($2,120) Select FPS Music for more information.  In addition to the funds associated with these ten grants, the FCDC reserved $5,200 to fund three projects to be overseen by the FCDC. The committee-directed projects are: Porchfest 2025, to contribute to the cost of the Porchfest website, police detail and insurance. ($3,500) Artsy Boxes, to provide for maintenance of the artwork of current Artsy Boxes. ($1,200) Collaborative Musicians, to compensate musicians performing at community events. ($500) Information about these and other and Culture happenings is shared weekly in the Cultural District Newsletter. Partnering with Franklin Matters @https://www.franklinmatters.org sharing information about what matters in Franklin. Visit Franklin Matters for Franklin information. Franklin Cultural District Committee Amy Adams, Katherine Botelho, Pandora Carlucci, Sue Cass, Patrick Conlan, John LoPresti, Roberta Trahan Next meeting: January 9, 2025 at 7:00pm at Franklin Senior Center

Town of Franklin Franklin Culture District | 355 East Central Street | Franklin, MA 02038 US

Ben Franklin Book Week is now Ben Franklin MONTH - January 1-30, 2025 (Franklin, MA)

Ben Franklin Book Week was born in 2024 as "A Community Rediscovery of Ideas, Literature, and the Shared Gift of Language." 

In its second year, this is annual event, now the whole month of January, celebrates the birth month of Benjamin Franklin, America's most inspiring 'founding father.' Ben's gift of books to the town of Franklin led to creation of the First Free Public Lending Library in North America and set the tone for Franklin's history ever since. 

Ben Franklin Month recognizes the town's ongoing book- and learning-friendly culture and the many other ways Franklin has inspired and continues to inspire creative endeavors with a growing slate of events and activities! 

Ben Franklin Month is led by the Franklin Historical Museum, with support from Franklin Public Library, and Dean College with grant funding provided by Mass. Cultural Council through the Franklin Cultural District Committee.

PLANNED EVENTS INCLUDE:

Sat. 1/4 Franklin-ventions: Revolutionary Ideas in Franklin Industries + a look at some of Ben Franklin's famous inventions. Continues all month during regular hours (Sat. 10-1 and Sun 1-4) at the Franklin Historical Museum, 80 West Central Street.

Sat. 1/4 'Ben Gave us Books and We Gave the World Books' -- a display of Franklin-authored books, past and present. Continues all month during regular hours (Sat. 10-1 and Sun 1-4) at the Franklin Historical Museum, 80 West Central Street. (Are you a Franklin Author? -- contact alan.r.earls@gmail.com to join the display!)

Thurs. 1/9 JUNTO A Non-Fiction Book Club at the Franklin Library Starts in January! (Inspired by Ben Franklin's famous Philadelphia reading group, the Junto)! The first meeting is Thursday January 9th at 6:30PM. The January Book is Think Again by Adam Grant! Get a physical or digital copy through the Library Catalog!

Sat. 1/11 1:00—3:00 PM Ben Franklin Week Kickoff Concert at the Franklin Public Library with popular local favorite, Franklin Underground!

Sun 1/12 Second Sunday Speaker Series (Speaker to be announced) at the Franklin Historical Museum. Museum open 1-4, program starts at 1:15.

Fri. 1/17 Franklin Library Children’s Dept features Ben Franklin Birthday Bash. Check library website for details.

Sat. 1/18 Short Franklin-related films at Historical Museum during regular 10-1 hours.

Sun. 1/19 Third Sunday “music at the museum’ – Come learn about and experience the lively, underappreciated musical, Ben Franklin in Paris that ran for 215 performances on Broadway (1964-5)! Free.

Wed. 1/22 (even. Dean College Student History Reception at Franklin  Historical Museum 80 West Central Street

Franklin's Congressman Jake Auchincloss

Thurs., 1-23, Ben Franklin Autobiography LIVE Readathon at the Franklin Historical Museum, 80 West Central Street, 1:30 PM to approximately 8 pm Come and participate! 

Contact Alan Earls with any questions (alan.r.earls@gmail.com). FREE. Note, the 'kick off ' reader (prerecorded) will be Franklin's Congressman, Jake Auchincloss followed by State Senator Becca Rausch (also prerecorded).  Volunteer readers typically participate for 10-15 minutes in sharing this classic work of American literature. Completion times vary but the event will likely end around 8 pm and will also include a 'tea' (Ben's favorite kind!) and reading of a short play written by Ben Franklin. Watch for a signup link on the website or come by to listen or participate!

Fri. 1/17 BIG Library Book Sale at the Franklin Public Library Friday, January 17th, 1:00-5:00

Sat. 1/18 Big Library Book Sale Continues 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon and from 1-4 its the Big Library BAG SALE

Sun. 1/26 Vera Meyer and Ben Franklin's Glass Armonica at Marvin Chapel, Dean College at approximately 1:30 (check back closer to the date) Among Ben Franklin's most amazing inventions is the glass armonica (or harmonica) , a series of concentric, rotating crystal glass bowls that can be played (think of the sound of wine glass rims being rubbed). Mozart and others composed music for it. And Boston area musician and expert Vera Meyer will return to Franklin for a performance featuring many styles of music [LISTEN TO SAMPLE HERE]. Don't miss the haunting, ethereal, and beautiful sounds of the armonica at the Dean College Marvin Chapel (second floor of Dean Hall) The event is also planned to include performance of Ben Franklin's funny, tongue-in-cheek play. Ben Franklin and the Gout. FREE

Check back for updates and/or new events and activities at https://benfranklinbookweek.com

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Thursday, December 12, 2024 ???

Thursday, December 12

• Kennedy PCC fund raiser (Papa Ginos, Franklin)
• Franklin Art Association, Art Show & Sale (Norfolk Public Library)

4:30pm Winter Wonderland - a Community Holiday Event (Franklin Senior Center)

5:00pm Board Game Night (Pete's Nerd Emporium)

5:00pm Holiday Market (Birchwood Bakery & Kitchen)

6:00pm Remington MS Winter Concert (Horace Mann School)

7:00pm Cultural District Committee (Franklin Public Library)

**   Town Meetings today   **

Charles River Pollution Control District Meeting (Medway)

Event Date:  Thursday, December 12, 2024 - 3:00pm

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/events/crpcd_meeting_3.pdf

Conservation Commission Meeting (Council Chambers & broadcast)

Event Date:  Thursday, December 12, 2024 - 7:00pm

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/12-12_conservation_agenda.pdf

Cultural District Committee Meeting (Franklin Public  Library)

Event Date:  Thursday, December 12, 2024 - 7:00pm

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/events/franklin_cultural_district_committee_meeting.pdf

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School Board of Trustees Meeting (charter school)

Event Date:  Thursday, December 12, 2024 - 7:00pm

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/events/bfccps_meeting_4.pdf

What's happening today in Franklin? 

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Why are there multiple calendars?

Respectfully, the Library and Senior Center calendars are too full of events to include all their events so we tend to focus on the major events. Town and School meetings are also kept separate. Links for all the calendars are shared here:

Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Library calendar of events ->    calendar link

The Senior Center calendar of events ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/node/39/events/upcoming

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendars

Reporting by Walking Around: A Wreath of Franklin - Dec 7 (photo essay)

The first "A Wreath of Franklin" was held on Saturday Dec 7, 2024.  I did my walking around to catch a few of the multiple events. My wife and I also came back (via car) to catch the Celtic & Christmas concert at the Library at 3 PM.

The wreaths are scheduled to be on display through December.

The story map of the wreath locations. A screen grab of the map is shown, the link  takes you to the interactive map ->   https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/aaa1de9182414b349cf62a16057b8a89

wreath outside Fire Station #1

Eddie Grant wreath at the Historical Museum

sock skating rink temporarily set up by the Children's Museum of Franklin

display of student art inside the former bookstore set up as a popup shop for the day

display of student art inside 2 the former bookstore set up as a popup shop for the day

wreath crafted by the Rise Up group (I did participate in a segment of the crafting)

A Wreath of Franklin booklet

If you missed picking up the booklet, I have a PDF copy available for download here -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/172dz2ZFH_7r7x_LVCtDL5G1yCOztJ-TO/view?usp=drive_link

Of note, the #ThinkFranklinFirst gifts are being revived. An info session will be held at Dean Bank in early 2025. I'll share the info details once I get it.

All the photos can also be found in one album ->   https://photos.app.goo.gl/F7ivkU97yCoCPLHaA