Cultural Wednesdays is a newsletter that is shared in partnership with Franklin Matters/Franklin.news, and highlights arts and culture opportunities in Franklin. This week, on Saturday, September 10, we celebrate Community Unity at the Franklin Cultural Festival. All are welcome!

  Celebrate Arts and Culture ... Celebrate Franklin!

Amy Adams, Katherine Botelho,

Pandora Carlucci, John LoPresti, Roberta Trahan

Franklin Cultural District Committee

Franklin Art Association Meeting

The Franklin Art Association is meeting on Wednesday, September 7 in the Franklin Senior Center. Their program begins with a social gathering at 6:30 pm. At 7:00 pm abstract painter Deborah Drummond will be doing a painting demonstration, sharing her techniques and inspiration.  The program is free and open to the public. Select Art to learn more about the Franklin Art Association. The Senior Center is located at 10 Daniel McCahill St.

La Cantina Winery - Weekend at the Winery

David Penza, Live Music, Thursday, September 8, 6:00 - 8:30 pm.

Santa Foundation Fundraiser, Ticketed Event, Friday, September 9  

Patrick Durkin, Live Music, Saturday, September 10, 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.  La Cantina Winery is located at 357 Union St. Select Winery to learn more about La Cantina Winery.

Intermission Cafe

Intermission Cafe is holding Wine Barre 02038 on Thursday, September 8 from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm. The Cafe is located at 12 Main Street. Use the rear entrance to the building. Enjoy!

Select Intermission to learn more about the cafe.

Farmers Market

Franklin Farmers Market makes Fridays fun on the Town Common (2:00 pm to 6:00 pm) and is an opportunity to support local small businesses. Friday, September 9, Mikey Saint, acoustic guitarist, performs between 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm. His performance is funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Franklin Cultural Council. Select Market for more information.

67 Degrees Brewing 

Enjoy the music of Hit the Bus, Duo or Trio, on Friday, September 9, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Papalias Pizza, wood-fired mobile pizza oven, will be there from 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm or until sold out. Select 67 Degrees for more information. 67 Degrees Brewing is located at 158 Grove Street. 

Franklin Cultural Festival

The Franklin Cultural Council is welcoming the community to its second Cultural Festival on Saturday. The Festival includes Live Performances, Artisan Vendors, Community Cultural Lane, Wine & Beer Garden, and Food Trucks.

All of this happens on the Town Common, Saturday, September 10 from 12 noon to 6:00 pm. The Cultural District Committee has a booth on Community Cultural Lane featuring live painting by Amy Adams and quilting demonstration by Jennifer Vacca. Please stop by. Select FCC for information about the Festival, performance times, and event parking locations. Come and enjoy the Cultural Festival!

Open House

Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) offers an Open House on Saturday, September 10, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Meet faculty and staff, and learn more about FSPA programs in music, dance, and drama. Select FSPA for more information. FSPA is located at 12 Main St.

Sunday Afternoon at the Museum

Second Sunday Speaker Series, September 11 at 1:15 pm at the Franklin Historical Museum. Maureen Taylor will present - The photo detective - Buns, Beards, Bodices and Bustles. Select Museum to learn more about this event and the Historical Museum. The Historical Museum is located at 80 West Central St.

Blood Drive at THE BLACK BOX

Tuesday, September 13, THE BLACK BOX is partnering with the American Red Cross on a Blood Drive. The event happens from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm and is sponsored by Comprehensive Wealth Planners at Dean Bank. Select TBB to learn how to register for this important event. THE BLACK BOX is located at 15 West Central St.

Franklin Public Library

September 1 - 30 ... Franklin's Public Library has opportunities for all ages throughout the month. Read their September newsletter here  for information on learning, art and music activities, performances, not to mention books and reading!  

Sunday hours return to the Library on September 11 ... 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm. The Library is located at 118 Main St.

Select Cultural Wednesdays ... Arts Happen Here! for information about these and other events/performances during the upcoming week.

Note: Events subject to change

Theater and Dance Performances

at Dean College

Dean College announces its 2022 - 2023 Season of Theater and Dance Performance and the sale of season tickets. The performances are staged by the School of the Arts and the Joan Palladino School of Dance. Season ticket sales offer an easy way to purchase the theater series, dance series or combined theater and dance series. Individual show tickets will be available for purchase starting September 26.

The Theater Series Package includes:

• The Importance of Being Ernest, Main Stage, October 20 - 23, 2022
• All Shook Up, Main Stage, November 16 - 20, 2022
• Mr. Burns, A Post Electric Play, Main Stage, February 23 - 26, 2023
• Pippin, Main Stage, March 22 - 26, 2023

The Dance Series Package includes:

•  Arts Mosaic, Guidrey Center, November 4 - 5, 2022
• Faculty Dance Works, Main Stage, December 9 - 10, 2022
• Choreographers' Concert, Main Stage, March 31 - April 1, 2023
• Dance Company, Main Stage, April 27 - 30, 2023

Select theater for dates, times, and ticket information. Enjoy theater and dance at Dean College, in the Cultural District.

Franklin Performing Arts Company

The Franklin Performing Arts Company, located at THE BLACK BOX, announces its 2022 - 2023 Performance Season. THE BLACK BOX is home to the Franklin Performing Arts Company, an Actors’ Equity Small Professional Theater. 

The performance season includes:

• The Sound of Music, October 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23.
• The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, November 18, 19, 20
• Sarah DeLappe’s wildly popular play The Wolves, January 6, 7, 8 .
• Something Rotten, March 11, 12, 17, 18, 19.
• Violet, a musical, June 9, 10, 11

Additionally, FPAC Holiday Productions will present The Nutcracker and 'Tis the Season. More details to follow.

Select FPAC  for ticket purchases and to learn more about these and other productions at THE BLACK BOX, in the Cultural District.

Concert Season with LiveARTS

LiveARTS announces its Concert Season 2022 - 2023. Concert Performances will be held at First Universalist Society in Franklin.

• October 2, 3:00 pm with LiveARTS String Quartet, joined by pianists Victor Rosenbaum and Ann Sears, and introducing emerging artist Nathan Krishnaswami, tenor.
• November 6, Victor Rosenbaum will perform a solo piano recital, featuring music of Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, and a premiere performance of a work by young composer Lewis Warren.
• March 12, Young Artist Showcase featuring students of Victor Rosenbaum, and members of the Schubert Club and the Chaminade Clubs of Attleboro and Providence, RI. 
• April 16, Soprano Louise Toppin will be joined by Ann Sears in a program of music by African American and other American composers.

All performances take place at 3:00 pm at the First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut St. Select Live for season subscriptions or individual ticket purchases.

Franklin Cultural Council Grants

Don't forget, FY23 Grant Applications are open and have an application deadline of October 15. To learn more about this grant opportunity select FCC Grant.

Mass Cultural Council Grant Opportunity

Reminder. Massachusetts Cultural Council has two grants designed to help arts and culture organizations, and arts and culture creatives and gig workers in their recovery from the COVID 19 pandemic.

For information about Cultural Sector Recovery Grants for Organizations, select here. To learn more about Cultural Sector Recovery Grants for Individuals, select here. Application Deadlines are approaching.

Cultural District Partners Meeting

The Franklin Cultural District Committee invites all Cultural District Partners to join in welcoming Carolyn Cole and Guelmi Espinal, Program Officers, Cultural Districts, Massachusetts Cultural Council. They will visit Franklin, tour the Cultural District, and meet with Cultural District Partners the afternoon of Thursday, October 20. More details to follow. Select Culture to learn more about the Franklin Cultural District. 

The Franklin Cultural District Committee partners with the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the Franklin Cultural Council, and the Town of Franklin to promote arts and culture in Franklin.

Franklin's Cultural District Committee (FCDC) engages, promotes, celebrates, and collaborates with Franklin's artists and creatives, as well as organizations, institutions, and businesses. There are two openings on the FCDC. Select Volunteer for the volunteer form and information.

Franklin Cultural District Committee:

Amy Adams, Katherine Botelho,

Pandora Carlucci, John Lo Presti, and Roberta Trahan.