ArtWeek: Worcester Chamber Music Society - Multi-media Concert - May 6

The Worcester Chamber Music Society will be coming to Franklin for a unique multi-media concert on May 6 as part of ArtWeek. In conjunction with the Franklin Public Schools, the Art + Music Family Concert will offer music of Mozart, Debussy, Haydn, and Ginastera at the Franklin High School auditorium from 3:00 - 4:30pm. 

Artwork inspired by the pieces and created by Franklin's elementary school students will be projected above the musicians' heads in a presentation timed to the music. In addition, Jacob Hoover and Katherine Bickford, who dance professionally with the Festival Ballet Providence, will perform, and children in the audience will have an opportunity to create art real-time. 

After the concert, there will be a Meet & Greet with the musicians, giving audience members a chance to see the instruments up close and speak to the people who play them.

"ArtWeek is a great opportunity for people to experience the arts in new and engaging ways, and we are excited to come to Franklin!" says Worcester Chamber Music Society Executive Director Tracy Kraus.

Thanks to sponsorship by the MetroWest Visitors Bureau, Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism, Dean Bank, Middlesex Savings Bank and the Franklin Cultural Council, tickets are being offered at a greatly reduced ticket price of $10/adults, $7/seniors and students, and all children 17 and under free with a paying adult. 

Tickets can be purchased at: www.worcesterchambermusic.org/franklin-family-concert.

The program will include Mozart's Flute Quartet in D Major, Allegro; Debussy's Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp, Interlude; Haydn's Piano Trio in A Major, Allegro; and Ginastera's Impresiones de la Puna (complete).

About the Franklin Cultural Council —

The mission of the Franklin Cultural Council (FCC) is to encourage participation and enhance opportunities for enrichment in the cultural arts and sciences throughout our community. Comprised of committed residents, the FCC meets monthly with the purpose of supporting events and programs through grants from the Town of Franklin, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

ArtWeek: Worcester Chamber Music Society - Multi-media Concert - May 6

Action and IMPACT: Community Arts Advocacy Day - April 7

Action and IMPACT: Community Arts Advocacy Day is a multi-town event bringing together artists, art advocates, cultural organizations, and local businesses to participate in a day of grassroots activism and education to support the growth and effectiveness of the arts and arts organizations in Massachusetts.

This second annual Community Arts Advocacy Day (CAAD) offers ten free workshops to attendees, as well as a variety of grassroots arts advocacy activities. CAAD will be held on Saturday, April 7 from 8:00 - 2:30 at the Franklin Senior Center. Attendance is free, though registration is required. In addition to members of the Franklin Cultural Council, Norfolk Cultural Council, Massachusetts Cultural Council and MASSCreative, MA Representative Jeff Roy will speak on how and why to advocate with legislators; he will also participate in one of the advocacy workshops, allowing participants to role play advocacy conversations with him. Any organization from any town is welcome to attend. To register for CAAD, go to: http://bit.ly/CAAD2018register.

AGENDA:
8:00 - 9:00 Registration, Breakfast & Networking
9:00 - 9:10 Welcome Address
9:10 - 9:25 Why Advocate?
9:25 - 9:40 MASSCreative: Advocating for Public Funding for the Arts, Arts Education and Public Art
9:40 - 10:00 Creative Break to Advocate…grassroots advocacy activities
10:10 - 11:10 Educational Workshop Session 1
11:20 - 12:20 Educational Workshop Session 2
12:30 - 1:15 Lunch and Meet Your Reps…an opportunity to talk about the arts with legislators while noshing
1:25 - 2:25 Panel Discussion: How to Drive Community Engagement
2:25 - 2:30 Wrap Up

Action and IMPACT: Community Arts Advocacy Day - April 7

WORKSHOPS: How to Attract and Keep Volunteers — Karen Wellerson-Juhl, Franklin Cultural Council Volunteers are the backbone of many arts organizations. Finding them (and keeping them!) can sometimes be difficult, but is an integral part of your group's success. Learn tips, tricks and proven strategies from Karen, who has a wealth of experience dealing with volunteers as the Director of the Sherborn Council on Aging

Shoestring Marketing for Arts Organizations — Stacey David, Franklin Cultural Council Learn how to build a marketing plan for your arts organization from the ground up! Stacey has more than 20 years of experience in marketing and public relations, and will walk you through the steps of creating a successful marketing plan. Elements include: PR, advertising, social media, special events, marketing collateral, newsletters and more. Many arts organizations are volunteer-run or have small staffs and small budgets…but that doesn't mean you can't market yourself! Stacey can teach you how to market on a shoestring.

The Mass Cultural Council Community Initiative: How to Build Community Partnerships — Mina Kim, Massachusetts Cultural Council Arts and culture enrich community growth, empower individuals, cultivate youth leadership, and provide a whole that is greater than the sum of our parts. What is the sum of our parts? How do we recognize our role in elevating the power of culture with our partners? The MCC's new Community Initiative focuses on building partnerships among local cultural councils, cultural districts, municipal officials, and the broader arts and culture sector at the local and regional levels. Join Mina Kim, Program Officer for the Community Initiative, to learn about existing and potential networks that have taken root through the Initiative, and how to cultivate meaningful collaborations that bolster support for your work.  

Social Media Basics—Charity Stolarz and Taylor McVay, Norfolk Cultural Council Learn to leverage the power of social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to connect to your community and amplify your message. Charity and Taylor will give you a crash course in the basic usage of the most popular social media platforms, along with tips and advice on which platforms are best suited for use in various circumstances. You'll get tools and techniques to boost your reach and maximize engagement with your target audience, and a chance to practice posting, liking, sharing, tweeting and adding friends in real time with a workshop full of new social media followers. No social media experience necessary! You will need to bring your smartphone and/or laptop to this workshop. If possible, please have the social media apps pre-installed on your devices beforehand.

Grant Budget Planning for Non-Profits — Barb Gardner and Lillian Gould, Franklin Cultural Council For many, the budget portion of a grant proposal causes real anxiety. Join Barb, a grant writer for Tufts University, and Lillian, a former grant writer for the MFA, for a step-by-step walk through of how to design and prepare a great budget and budget narrative, and take the stress out of this critical piece of the process.  

Creating a Successful Arts/Business Partnership Event— Kelly Artamonov, ArtWeek Local businesses and arts organizations can create mutually beneficial marketing and special events, forging lasting symbiotic relationships. Partnership events allow arts organizations to expand their reach and public awareness while creating good PR, revenue, and enhanced branding for the business partner. Learn the many ways that arts can partner with businesses and brainstorm how to create a partnership event in your own community.  

Developing a Social Media Strategy—Charity Stolarz and Taylor McVay, Norfolk Cultural Council Once you know the basics, it's time to build a strategy! This workshop is a great sequel to our Social Media Basics workshop and can also help organizations with an established social media presence maximize their efficacy. This session will help you craft a strategic plan for using social media to your advantage. Topics include: tips for using hashtags effectively across platforms, using a consistent voice and style, developing a social media schedule, creative ways to consistently engage your followers, live functions, and more.  

Ask the Experts: Grants and Budgets— Barb Gardner and Lillian Gould, Franklin Cultural Council Have a specific question about an upcoming funding announcement? Looking for ideas to make your grant proposal stronger? Wondering how to design a budget for a project you’ve never done before? Not sure how to go about your first grant application? Then come with your questions and ask the experts! Lillian Gould and Barb Gardner together have over 20 years experience in grant writing and are available to help you.

Leveraging PR and Email Marketing— Tamara Starr, Franklin Cultural Council Tamara is currently a web producer for NBC Boston and New England Cable News, and knows what it takes to grab the attention of the press. This workshop will focus on how to write a great press release, managing relationships with editors, examples of impactful "letters to the editor" that support your arts and advocacy message, and more!  

The Ins and Outs of How to Advocate for the Arts— MA Representative Roy and Emily Ruddock, MASSCreative Representative Roy will talk to us about the issues he faces regarding State arts funding budgeting, the objections his colleagues might have to supporting the arts, and how to successfully address those objections when advocating. Emily, Program Advocate at MASSCreative, will then guide people in coming up with talking points and "scripts" for advocacy meetings with legislators, giving time to role play these meetings with Rep Roy and others.

Panel discussion: How to Drive Community Engagement—moderator, Stacey David, Franklin Cultural Council Without community engagement, your arts organization won't survive. Those that do it well, however, thrive. Our amazing panelists have a wealth of knowledge to share on this subject. Submit questions to our panel as part of your registration—we promise you'll gain a lot from this discussion!

Panelists include: • Tracy Kraus, Executive Director of the Worcester Chamber Music Society • Susan Nicholl, Executive Director of the MetroWest Visitors Bureau • Jen Leclerc, Manager of Community Engagement for the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston • Nicky Enriquez, Web & Digital Media Producer for the Massachusetts College of Art & Design • Justin Springer, Managing Partner of OUTSIDE THE BOX AGENCY  

Action and IMPACT: Community Arts Advocacy Day is a program of the Franklin Cultural Council, with additional support from the Norfolk Cultural Council, MASSCreative, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and our sponsors Dedham Savings Bank and Whole Foods Market. All advocacy activities and workshops are offered free of charge, however, a suggested donation of $10 per registrant is appreciated to help offset the cost of breakfast and lunch. To register for CAAD, please go to: http://bit.ly/CAAD2018register.

Franklin Cultural Council to Partner With Spring 2018 ArtWeek Festival

The Franklin Cultural Council (FCC) announced today that it has been named a collaborator for the upcoming ArtWeek festival happening April 27 – May 6, 2018. Applications for the festival are now available at artweekma.org. The early bird deadline to submit an ArtWeek event is January 8, 2018 and the final deadline is February 28, 2018.

ArtWeek is an award-winning innovative festival featuring hundreds of unique and creative experiences that are hands-on, interactive or offer behind-the-scenes access to arts, culture, and the creative process. Now an annual statewide festival, ArtWeek was born in Boston in 2013 and recently expanded its footprint across the Commonwealth.

"Franklin has one of the most vibrant arts scenes in MetroWest," says FCC Chair Stacey David. "Our role as a collaborator is to help artists, performers and venues partner together to create a really memorable ArtWeek festival showcasing their amazing talent and resources to the rest of the region. We are pleased to announce that the Franklin Public Library, Rec Department, Franklin Arts Academy at the high school, and many more organizations will be offering unique ArtWeek programs."

Presented by Highland Street Foundation and produced by the Boch Center, ArtWeek offers new ways to experience art, culture, and creativity. This year, Mass Cultural Council and the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism have joined ArtWeek as Lead Champions in this unique opportunity to shine a spotlight on the state’s creative economy.

“We are thrilled to have organizations like the Franklin Cultural Council partnering with ArtWeek this season,” said Josiah A. Spaulding, Jr., President & CEO of the Boch Center. “ArtWeek is an innovative festival that works to spotlight how the creative economy is thriving in Massachusetts. Each year ArtWeek showcases unique experiences spanning dance, fashion, media arts, spoken-word, poetry, writing, culinary, visual arts, music, opera, theater, design, film, and more. And the best part is that many of the events are free, making it affordable and accessible to everyone!”

The Franklin Cultural Council is offering ArtWeek grants of up to $250 each for programs that are offered free of charge to the public. Grant applications are open now, and close Jan. 9, 2018. If you are an interested artist, educator, performer or venue that would like help creating an ArtWeek event, or for information on ArtWeek grants, please email FCC Chair Stacey David at franklinculturalcouncil02038@gmail.com.

For more information on ArtWeek, visit www.artweekma.org.

Franklin Cultural Council to Partner With Spring 2018 Artweek Festival

About the Franklin Cultural Council — The mission of the Franklin Cultural Council (FCC) is to encourage participation and enhance opportunities for enrichment in the cultural arts and sciences throughout our community. Comprised of committed residents, the FCC meets monthly with the purpose of supporting events and programs through grants from the Town of Franklin, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Artists, educators, performers & venues wanted for ArtWeek Franklin

We want YOU for ArtWeek Franklin! The Franklin Cultural Council is bringing ArtWeek, a statewide arts festival, to Franklin April 27 - May 6, 2018...and we want YOU involved! ArtWeek is a 10-day festival featuring unique and unexpected arts and cultural experiences that are participatory, interactive, or offer behind-the-scenes access to artists or the creative process. Anyone can host an ArtWeek event…organizations, businesses, schools and individual artists. And while the VENUE has to be in Franklin to be part of ArtWeek Franklin, the HOST or participating organization does not! Successful events are often partnerships between artists and venues, such as a theater or dance performance in a restaurant, or an art workshop in a retail space.   What makes an event an ArtWeek event? ArtWeek events should be unique, memorable and inspired experiences that offer a taste of the arts, culture, and/or creativity unlike others that you can traditionally experience throughout the rest of the year. Plenty of events are outside-the-box, but you can also easily transform an existing event or performance that would normally be available to the general public by adding a simple "ArtWeek twist" like: Inviting the public to what is typically a closed rehearsal or offering a free pre- or post-show talk or discussion  Hosting a hands-on workshop or demonstration (and it's extra cool to host them in an unexpected place) Adding a twist to open studios by including a 30-minute mini-workshop or how-to session with an artist Creating a partnership event between artists and businesses Offering a tour, hosting a lecture or creating a panel to discuss a relevant topic in arts, culture or creativity If you're a restaurant, consider participating in the Art of Food. Learn More Why participate? ArtWeek brings tourists to town, customers to your business, and  attendees to your events. It can drive revenue, raise awareness, create a sense of community, promote good will, and get more people interested in your goods, services, programs, and more. Plus, ArtWeek will promote you for free! Need inspiration? The great people at ArtWeek have created handy inspiration sheets for every type of business, organization and venue. Follow the link below to start generating ideas for how YOU can create a unique ArtWeek event. ArtWeek Inspiration Sheets So let's talk money... ArtWeek events must be open to the public (though you can limit the number of attendees through ticket sales or other means), but they don't have to be free. All events must be under $50, and you keep all revenue. Want to host a free event? Well, that's certainly encouraged too! In fact, the Franklin Cultural Council believes so strongly in ArtWeek that we are providing special grants just to those programs offered free of charge! To apply, click here: FCC ArtWeek grants Let's talk promo... The beauty of ArtWeek is that it's a partnership! ArtWeek helps coordinate and promote the events through their unique, searchable database (they'll create a web page for your event free of charge!), as well as ads, press releases, and on social media. State and regional partners such as the Mass Office of Travel & Tourism, the Mass Cultural Council, and the MetroWest Visitors Bureau will promote ArtWeek through their channels. The Franklin Cultural Council, the Town of Franklin, and our local partners will also help raise awareness through all of our efforts. That's a whole lot of extra visibility to amplify your own efforts! Location, location, location... Have an idea, but don't know where to host the event? Have a venue, but looking for a program? We can help! We are putting together a list of events and venues to help match up partners. If you're interested, simply fill out this Google form: ArtWeek Partnership Form So where do you sign?? Ready to participate? If so, follow the link below to apply directly to ArtWeek for your event to be part of the fun! It's a short form and easy to fill out – we promise! The early bird deadline is Jan. 8; final deadline is Feb. 28. And if you don't mind, drop us a line at the Franklin Cultural Council at franklinculturalcouncil02038@gmail.com so that we know you want to be involved. We can't wait! Still have questions? Visit ArtWeek's FAQ's for more info. Apply Now Copyright © 2018 Franklin Cultural Council, All rights reserved.

Mass Cultural Council invests $2.2M in Creative Youth

Last week, the Mass Cultural Council released a spending plan for the new fiscal year that will invest more than $2 million in Creative Youth Development and Education through YouthReach, SerHacer, STARS Residencies, Big Yellow School Bus, and Poetry Out Loud.

The Council also unveiled a new strategic plan and vision for unleashing the power of culture across the Commonwealth. 

Mass Cultural Council invests $2.2M in Creative Youth

Cultural Connections - Rhapsody’s Victorian Coffee House - Oct 10

The Franklin Cultural Council is sponsoring a new program called Cultural Connections, an arts and culture roundtable designed to bring members of arts and cultural organizations from many towns together to talk, network, and share stories on various topics about what has and hasn't worked in their organizations. 

Cultural Connections will get together several times a year for a casual few hours of discussion. 

The first session will be held on Oct. 10 at 7:00 pm at Rhapsody’s Victorian Coffee House at 395 E. Central Street, Franklin, and the topic up for discussion is Social Media in the arts community. 

For more information, or to register, please visit http://bit.ly/2wI2wRp. 

This program is free and open to anyone interested in the arts from any organization in any town.

Cultural Connections - Rhapsody’s Victorian Coffee House - Oct 10

View this email in your browser Unleashing the Power of Culture  Executive Director Anita Walker Vibrant cities and towns. Children experiencing the delight of discovery while exercising their creative minds. Our icons of liberty preserved and celebrated. Our science museums, helping us understand our world and inspiring a new generation to make it even better. This is the Power of Culture. The Mass Cultural Council is committed to unleashing this power across the Commonwealth. Learn more about our work to elevate the cultural life of the Commonwealth through the arts, humanities, and sciences to enrich communities, grow the economy, increase accessibility, and foster creative youth development. Our New Vision About the Mass Cultural Council The Mass Cultural Council is a state agency supporting the arts, sciences, and humanities, to improve the quality of life in Massachusetts and its communities. It pursues its mission through a combination of grants, services, and advocacy for nonprofit cultural organizations, schools, communities, and artists. Copyright © 2017 Mass Cultural Council, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Mass Cultural Council 10 St. James Avenue Boston, MA 02116

Mass Senate Votes Unanimously to Restore Culture Funding

View this email in your browser Mass Senate Votes Unanimously to Restore Culture Funding (Boston, MA) – The Massachusetts Senate voted unanimously today to restore nearly $2 million in state funding for the arts, humanities, and sciences through the Mass Cultural Council. The bipartisan override to Governor Charlie Baker's veto restores cultural funding to $14 million for FY18, level with the fiscal year that ended in June. The vote closes the books on a lengthy budget process that began last January. It assures Mass Cultural Council's ability to maintain funding for core programs such as operating support for nonprofit cultural organizations and grants to local cultural councils, cultural districts, creative youth development and education programs, and artists. The Senate vote followed a House override earlier this month to restore cultural funding, which passed with wide support. Today's override was led by Senate President Stan Rosenberg of Amherst, Ways & Means Committee Chair Karen Spilka of Ashland, and Adam Hinds of Pittsfield, Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development. Spilka said cultural funding is a "priority of the Senate" in part because of its role in supporting arts education and job creation. "It's our job to continue to enhance our communities through the arts, sciences, and humanities," she said on the Senate floor. Hinds and his Joint Committee Co-Chair, Representative Cory Atkins of Concord, circulated letters to their House and Senate colleagues asking them to prioritize Mass Cultural Council in budget veto overrides. MASSCreative, with support from Mass Humanities, Mass Artists Leaders Coalition, and many others statewide, urged advocates to encourage their legislators to endorse the letter and thus ensure a wide base of support. "A community isn't complete until there are the arts feeding the souls of the people and a healthy democracy," remarked Rosenberg at a creative economy press conference in Boston Monday. "We are so fortunate to have a Senate President and a leadership team who truly understand the transformative power of the arts, humanities, and sciences in their communities," said Anita Walker, Mass Cultural Council Executive Director. "Thanks to vigorous, persistent advocacy from our many partners across the Commonwealth, we've weathered another stormy fiscal year. We will continue to make the case for cultural funding and ensure the arts, humanities, and sciences have a seat at the public policy table on Beacon Hill throughout this legislative session and beyond." About the Mass Cultural Council Mass Cultural Council is a state agency supporting the arts, sciences, and humanities, to improve the quality of life in Massachusetts and its communities. It pursues its mission through a combination of grants, services, and advocacy for nonprofit cultural organizations, schools, communities, and artists. The agency's total budget for this fiscal year is $15.7 million, which includes a state appropriation and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and other sources. The Mass Cultural Council also runs the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund in partnership with MassDevelopment. Copyright © 2017, All rights reserved. This e-mail was sent from Massachusetts Cultural Council Our mailing address is: Mass Cultural Council • 10 St. James Ave., 3rd floor • Boston, MA 02116 • 617-858-2700