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Art Pharmacy | Strengthening Franklin Through Arts
Thank you to our community members that we able to join us in our latest Community Conservation regarding the Art Pharmacy partnership in Franklin.
If you have a public space that you would be willing to make available for classes or creative programs, we invite you to fill out this short survey so we can connect you with interested artists.
The Department of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy will help connect those seeking space and those who have it. Once you (place of programming + creative programmer) establish a partnership, we encourage both parties to register with Art Pharmacy as care providers to support the continued success of the initiative.
The Art Pharmacy Quarterly Report highlights the program’s impact, artist partnerships, and community engagement, offering a snapshot of participation trends and future goals as it grows within Franklin’s creative economy.
The Town of Franklin is proud to be the first municipality in the United States to implement Arts Prescriptions, an innovative initiative designed to support community well-being and combat the ongoing impacts of the opioid crisis.
Through the use of opioid settlement funds, Franklin is integrating creative experiences—such as music, dance, visual arts, and theater—into substance use prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery efforts.
This pioneering program demonstrates the town’s commitment to fostering resilience and healing through the transformative power of the arts. Read on to learn more about how Franklin is leading the way in this groundbreaking approach to recovery.
Click here to read Massachusetts Cultural Council's March article about the program.
Art Pharmacy connects individuals to creative experiences—such as music, visual arts, dance, and theater—as a tool for improving mental health and fostering resilience. By integrating the arts into wellness strategies, Franklin aims to provide innovative, accessible support for those in need. Learn more about Art Pharmacy
"If I am enrolled as a Cultural Partner - how are people referred to my organization?
Art Pharmacy members receive recommendations from a Care Navigator (Art Pharmacy employee, similar to a Community Health Worker) for arts engagements that match their health goals, arts interests and access needs. They get 3-5 options that they choose from, so that the engagement they end up attending really speaks to them and works for their schedule.
Specific engagements at our partner organizations are promoted via direct recommendation to members. The personalized nature of our recommendations mean that there is not one calendar with all of the possible engagements on it.
Art Pharmacy covers participation costs [of enrolled members]. When a member selects an arts engagement (class, performance, museum visit etc), the Care Navigator books the ticket/registers for the class on their behalf. We typically follow the same pathways for registration as a member of the public (i.e. through the booking page on your website!).
In some cases a workaround is required given any particularities in an Arts Partner's systems. We typically cover participation costs at time of booking so that Arts & Culture Partners do not have to submit an invoice to Art Pharmacy. Arts & Culture Partners never have to deal with billing to health care providers. "
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How did Art Pharmacy come into Franklin?
Click here to review Official Memo from the Town of Franklin Administrators Office.
Click here to view the February 5th Town Council Meeting where approval was granted for this initiative [featured at 2:03 in the YouTube stream]
Franklin Community Members | Become a Community Partner in this Program
If you are an interested referring partner | Art Pharmacy trains individuals and organizations across the community who serve individuals in need of support, including hospitals, health clinics, mental health clinics, senior centers, school professionals, community organizations, and more to be referring partners.
If you are interested, please provide Art Pharmacy with your information using this interest form. Art Pharmacy will reach out to you directly with more information on getting started.
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If you are an interested arts and culture partner | Art Pharmacy is looking for creative and cultural programs that are open to members of the public who want to join the network. Organizations can be traditional and non-traditional arts & culture institutions, and any size.
Complete this enrollment form to start the process of becoming an arts and culture partner. Art Pharmacy will reach out to you with next steps to join the network.
If you have any questions about the Art Pharmacy program or how to get involved, please email care@artpharmacy.co.
Missed our March 5th Community Conversation about Art Pharmacy? Thank you to Franklin.TV and Franklin Matters for recording the event! Click the links below to see what you might have missed:
Wednesday, March 5th, 2025 12-2pm [event has passed]
At the Blackbox Theater, 15 W Central Street, Franklin, Massachusetts 02038
Join us to learn more about:
* How Art Pharmacy programs will positively impact Franklin
* Opportunities for local arts & culture organizations, social service providers, and community-focused businesses to become program partners.
* The role of arts and culture in strengthening mental health, wellness, and social connection
Click here to RSVP to the conversation.
This community conversation is free and open to the public. Parking available onsite.
For accessibility needs, please reach out to Cory Shea [cshea@franklinma.gov]