By Judith Dorato O’Gara

How can local artists, performers, crafters and other creatives enhance the economic livelihood of a town, and how can town planners, business and organizations collaborate to create opportunities to support these creatives and enhance their municipalities? These are some of the questions Franklin’s 2025 Arts & Culture Symposium, on September 18th and 19th, with a theme of “Creative Econ is in Session,” will address. 

The two-day event will begin from 6-9 p.m. at Dean College’s Guidrey Arts Center with an opening reception, interactive pop-up art installations by regional artists and live performances, followed by a networking session at THE BLACK BOX the next day, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. that features guest speakers Allison Yee CEO & Founder of UpNext (Formerly Popping Up Next), and Lindsey Jaworek of the Marlboro Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). 

“Really what we want to do this time around is bring the creative economy to the forefront of the conversation,” says Cory Shea, Franklin’s Director of Arts, Culture & the Creative Economy, “We wanted to set it up to be more of a networking opportunity, to cross pollinate sectors with creators and organizers. We wanted to get feedback from other business-minded community members involved … on how as a region we can work together on these programmings.”

Shea, acquainted with Lindsey Jaworek through their mutual work on the Metrowest Visitors Bureau Board of Directors, says she herself is inspired by the success of Jaworek’s work in Marlborough, by which popup “sheds” featuring artisan and crafter wares were added to the downtown area, drawing patrons and fueling the local economy. Shea is inspired to work to activate “all of the empty storefronts Franklin currently has.”

Amy Friguletti, Franklin Deputy Town Administrator, suggested Shea also reach out to Allison Yee, responsible for many pop-up shops in the Boston area.

“I worked with Allison Yee when I was in Wellesley,” says Friguletti, “We worked on a state grant with several other communities during COVID. We were able to fund several popups in Wellesley square, and a lot of them were creative individuals.” 

“A huge part is bridging together opportunities for creative businesses,” says Shea, “A lot of the work that community organizers are doing overlaps, and that’s the point of being in a room together. Let’s actually sit and talk with each other about ‘how can I bring that here?’” The symposium, she says, can be a way to share information between economic development groups, cultural councils and districts, nonprofit organizations as well as businesses.

“A lot of these symposiums very much focus on the emotional mission of the work, where this is the economic side of the work,” says Shea. 

Friguletti is excited for the arts symposium, hopeful to generate ideas and “see if there’s some collaboration we can use there, to pair our open spaces with some creatives,” something residents perceive as “fun and cool.” Shea, she says, is “an advocate for our creatives. We’re actually hiring photographers, looking for ways to bring in individuals that create and give them stipends to do the work they do, find resources and money to be able to do what they’re doing and enliven our community.” 

Following the symposium, participants will have a chance to see an example of the symposium’s subject matter. “At 2 p.m., we’re going to encourage participants to head over to the farmers’ market, (where) the Franklin Art Association is having a pop-up works exhibition to raise funds for their scholarships, exhibitions and programs they run, and it’s also an opportunity for these regional folks to come and see what businesses are coming in,” says Shea.

To learn more about the Franklin Arts & Culture Symposium, visit https://www.franklinma.gov/1162/2025-Arts-and-Culture-Symposium). You can also register at https://tinyurl.com/FranklinArtsCulture .