Get ready for some creative fun! Franklin’s ArtWeek festival is happening April 27 – May 6, 2018. The event, part of a statewide effort that began with ArtWeek Boston, will highlight Franklin’s vibrant art scene. Artists, performers and venues will partner together to showcase their amazing talent and resources.
Response to the event, “has been great,” according to event organizer and Franklin Cultural Council Chair Stacey David. “It looks like we’ll have 40-50 events just in Franklin for that week. It’s amazing.”
The event will include three features sponsored by the Franklin Cultural Council. Kicking off the event will be Taste of Artweek, which will take place from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Franklin Historical Museum, 80 West Central St., Franklin.
“That event is really giving people a taste of what Artweek is about,” says David. The night will include a number of mini music, dance and theatre performances, and a number of Artweek hosts will come to the event.
“Senator Ross will be there and some other town administrators and town council will be there,” says David. Restaurants will also participate, with samples for guests.
The Franklin Cultural Council is also sponsoring an Art in Motion event on April 28 at Franklin Public Library, coordinated with the Franklin Arts Academy, from 2-4 p.m. The event will feature groups of dancers, musicians and actors, and exhibiting artists, members of Urban Sketchers, will be on hand to paint them. The public will also be provided with their own sketching supplies to join in. This event takes place on the kickoff day for one of the library’s Artweek events, “1,000 Cranes for Franklin,” which will begin with a children’s story hour focusing on the Japanese tradition of folding cranes.
“People will write their wishes for the community on their cranes, and they will be displayed for the whole month of May at the library,” says David. The goal for the week, she says, is “to actually fold 1,000 cranes. The Japanese tradition is that if you fold 1,000 cranes, your wish will come true.”
The third major event sponsored by the Franklin Cultural Council, is its Partnership event. This will be an Art and Music Family Concert by the Worcester Chamber Music Society on the last day of the festival, May 6th, at 3 p.m. at Franklin High School auditorium. The event is funded by a grant from the Metrowest Visitors Bureau and the Mass Office of Travel and Tourism, with Dean Bank a major sponsor.
“What we’re doing is the Worcester Chamber Music Society is coming to play in Franklin, which is awesome because they don’t travel much. We are giving the musical recordings of what they’re going to play to the music and art teachers, and (Franklin) kids will create art in response to it. The images (of that artwork) will be projected on a screen during a concert,” says David. Dancers from the Festival Ballet Providence will also perform, and children will be invited to create artwork up on stage during the last concert piece.
The event has a much-reduced cost of $10 adults; $7 seniors and students, and kids 17 and under are free with ticketed adult. Visit worcesterchambermusic.org/franklin-family-concert to purchase tickets.
All week long, events like these and many more will take place all around Franklin. To plan your week, see the detailed Artweek Calendar of Events that follows.