Benefits of the Franklin Cultural District
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"The arts help us better understand and interpret the world around us, improve our ability to think critically and act creatively, and offer the opportunity to communicate. And the arts provide a way of thinking and a way to be engaged because they are about vision and having that ability to see. In our schools, arts education improves student achievement, well-being, and school climate. And finally, perhaps most importantly, culture plays a central role in helping our citizens discover timeless truths about themselves and the world we share.
Government is about improving lives, so given how much the arts do in that regard, it is quite fitting for the state to play a part.... The arts are fundamental to our humanity. They ennoble and inspire us — fostering creativity, empathy, and beauty. The arts also strengthen our communities socially, educationally, and economically.” According to Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D-Franklin).
The purpose and benefits of the Franklin Cultural District include:
- Facilitate collaboration between District Partners
- Increase local appreciation for the arts
- Attract artists and cultural enterprises while promoting artists and events
- Stimulate arts-related economic activity and development
- Establish our District as a cultural tourist destination
- Preserve and re-use the town’s historic assets
Arts and culture make our community a more vibrant, supportive place to live, while boosting our economy and our community’s value. The District designation is good for Franklin’s businesses, because it not only attracts additional arts and cultural organizations to the town, but drives economic development in and around the area.
Having an established Cultural District is also beneficial to our partner organizations by making them eligible for a variety of state grant programs, economic development opportunities and monies, strategic planning tools, historic preservation assistance and marketing assistance through the District’s own efforts as well as through the Mass Office of Travel and Tourism. Partner organizations collaborate on events and co-branded marketing efforts, including this website and a centralized event calendar and event marketing.
Click here to read more about the Town of Franklin's Economic Development Department