Calls for Artist & Cultural Opportunities

Calls for Artists & Cultural Opportunities
This page provides information and resources for artists, cultural practitioners, and creatives seeking opportunities to showcase their work, collaborate with organizations, or participate in cultural initiatives. 
 

Please visit the town of Franklin's Department of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy webpage.

Call for Artists & Writers: The Franklin Cultural District’s 2026 Seasonal Guides will serve as Franklin’s leading cultural and visitor-facing marketing materials during the World Cup programs this summer. With international visitors traveling throughout the region, these guides will help introduce Franklin as a welcoming, creative, and walkable community with a strong sense of place.

For Summer26, the Cultural District will be printing more copies than ever before and distributing them widely through:Hotels and lodging partners, Restaurants, cafes, and retail businesses, Public spaces and community hubs. Regional visitor centers and partner organizations.

The guides will highlight arts, culture, dining, small businesses, public spaces, and seasonal events, positioning Franklin as both a destination and a community—not just a place people pass through.

Being featured means your work will be:Seen by thousands of visitors and residents, Part of a cohesive, professionally produced marketing effort, Directly supporting Franklin’s creative economy and local businesses. These guides are designed to reflect the real character of Franklin, told through the voices and visuals of the people who know it best—our artists, writers, and creatives.

Who Can Apply: This call is open to creatives with a Franklin connection, including those who: Live or work in Franklin, Grew up here or studied here, Create here regularly, Have personal or professional ties to the community. (Examples: working locally, attending classes in Franklin, family ties, favorite local spots, etc.) Please include a brief description of your Franklin connection in your submission.

What We’re Looking For: Visual Artists: Illustrators, painters, photographers, printmakers, digital artists, muralists, and other visual creatives & Writers: Poets, lyricists, flash fiction writers, and short-form storytellers. Submissions should reflect the essence of Franklin—its people, places, creativity, seasons, and shared spaces. 

Themes may include:Community and connection, Public gathering and downtown life, Nature and the changing seasons, Small-town character and cultural expression.

Selected Creatives Will Receive: Featured placement in the Spring/Summer 2026 printed guides, Artist/writer credit, including name and contact or social information,  A short feature or artist statement (as space allows), Promotion through Franklin Culture’s digital platforms, Featured in pop-up exhibitions related to the Cultural District/Franklin Culture

Timeline -Submission Deadline: March 1, 2026
Guide Release: May 2026

How to Submit: Email the following to Cory Shea, Director of Arts, Culture & the Creative Economy, at cshea@franklinma.gov with the subject line: FCD Creative Submission

Please include:Visual artists: 3–5 work samples (JPEG or PDF), Writers: 1–2 written pieces (under 250 words each), A short bio or artist statement (whichever best fits your work). A brief note on your Franklin connection
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Call for Artists | Exhibition Opportunities
Ongoing --- Exhibiting Your Artwork in Franklin [Town Owned Property]
Please click here for the application process. 

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Networking -- Ongoing
Become an Artist Member of the Franklin Art Association
"The Franklin Art Association was established in 1971 to provide a forum for the promotion of visual arts; for the preservation of the finest artistic traditions by means of exhibiting works, conducting classes, lectures, and sponsoring other activities favorable to artistic expression and to provide friendly exchanges among painters, photographers and those interested in the fine arts.

Franklin Culture Arts Database [New & ongoing]!
Are you an artist or creative being that would like to be included in an arts database for the town of Franklin? Our goal is create centralized information, by compiling and presenting in one accessible platform, this page serves as a valuable resource hub for artists looking to expand their networks, gain exposure, and engage in meaningful artistic endeavors within their communities and beyond. Interested? Fill this short form out!

Have something you'd like to share to this web page? Please email our Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy Director, Cory Shea.

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Looking for more opportunities (grants, professional development, exhibitions, etc)? Check out our suggested resources listed below:
Franklin Cultural Council + FCC (on Facebook)
Massachusetts Cultural Council, Art Sake Blog 
New England Foundation of the Arts --  Jobs Matter Report
Mass Humanities 
Mass Creative 
Mass Moca: Assets4Artists
Arts For Everybody

Note these are just suggested resources and are not directly affiliated with Franklin Culture.