Previous 'Calls for Artists'

We're beginning to share past Calls for Artists as part of our commitment to transparency and public engagement. By making these opportunities publicly accessible, we invite the community to see how arts and culture initiatives have evolved in Franklin and celebrate the creativity that has shaped our public spaces. These archived calls offer a behind-the-scenes look at past projects, help inspire future proposals, and serve as a resource for artists, educators, and cultural partners interested in contributing to our creative community.

NEW SUBMISSION DEADLINE;

NOW SEPTEMBER 10TH

Call for Artists: Print Pop-Up Exhibition at the Franklin Arts & Culture Symposium

Are you a printmaker, graphic designer, illustrator, or visual artist working with print-based or paper media?

We want to showcase your work at The Paper Salon, a one-day pop-up exhibition at the Franklin Arts & Culture Symposium on Thursday, September 18, 2025.

The Paper Salon Pop-Up celebrates works on paper as a dynamic intersection of art, design, and cultural storytelling. This bold, immersive display will take place inside the Symposium venue and will spotlight the creative economy’s role in shaping community identity and innovation.

Join us in honoring the expressive potential of paper—from zines and letterpress to illustration and experimental print work.

What We’re Looking For:

  • Works on paper; poster design, screenprinting, zine pages, typography, illustration, or experimental print media
  • Pieces that are bold, thoughtful, and visually engaging
  • (landscape or portrait). Minimum size being 11x17” Maximum 18x24”
  • Artists must be 18 years or older and live/work in the metrowest region

Exhibition Format:

  • Work will be hung in a freestanding, open-air structure with clips—no frames or wall mounting required
  • Accepted artists will be emailed, with drop off information; all work must be printed and delivered by September 13 
  • Artists may submit up to 3 pieces; we will notify you which will be included.
  • If you’d like your work to be available for purchase, we ask that you attend the reception to personally handle any sales or transactions. The Dept. of Arts and Culture,  the Subcommittee/Cultural Council/District volunteers will not be responsible or liable for any transactions.
  • The Arts and Culture Subcommittee reserves the right to decline any works that do not align with its mission or values.
  • Artwork must be picked up at the end of the September 18th reception, or you may arrange an alternative pickup time. Please note that we cannot guarantee the safety of your artwork after the pop-up event concludes.

Key Dates:

  • Submission Deadline NOW September 10th
  • Delivery Deadline: September 15, 2025
  • Event Date: September 18, 2025 


To Apply:

Fill out the submission link here.

All submitting artists are warmly invited to attend the September 18th reception. Please RSVP using our Eventbrite link here.

Deadline August 22nd

Call for Artists: Interactive Pop-Up Art Installation
Presented at the Franklin Arts & Culture Symposium

The Town of Franklin’s Department of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Franklin Cultural Council and the Franklin Cultural District Committee invite artists and designers to submit proposals for an interactive pop-up art installation to debut at the upcoming Franklin Arts & Culture Symposium.

This temporary, visually striking piece will also serve as a community photo engagement opportunity—encouraging public interaction, photo-taking, and sharing across social media. The selected design will be printed on durable, exterior-grade foam materials, allowing it to "pop up" at multiple upcoming events, including Franklin’s Fall Markets, international celebrations around the 2026 World Cup, and Franklin’s MA250 commemorations.

We’re seeking bold, imaginative concepts that:

-Invite the public to interact and pose with the piece
-Reflect themes of community, creativity, and celebration
-Can be adapted or reassembled for different event locations
-Translate effectively into printed, cut-out foam components

Deadline to Apply: Friday, August 22nd
Artist Honorarium: $1,000

Submission Requirements:
Artists must be 18 years or older in order to particpate.
Concept sketch/rendering/ Mock Up
Short project description (max 300 words)
Artist bio and relevant work samples

Submit proposals to: Director of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Cory Shea, cshea@franklinma.gov, with the subject line :Interactive Pop-Up Art Installation

Have Questions? Please Email Cory.

Help us bring art into everyday moments—and capture the creativity of Franklin through a lens the whole community can step into!

Deadline August 1st

Call for Artists & Writers Featured in the Franklin Cultural District Seasonal Guide:  
Fall/Winter 2025
Submission Deadline August 1st, Click here for more details.

Call for Artists & Writers!
Be Featured in the Franklin Cultural District’s 2025 Seasonal Guides. The Franklin Cultural District Committee is excited to invite visual artists and writers to submit original work for inclusion in our upcoming printed marketing guides for Summer and Fall/Winter 2025! These guides celebrate Franklin’s creative economy, cultural happenings, and seasonal community spirit—and we want your voice and vision to help bring them to life.

Who We’re Looking For:
Visual artists: illustrators, painters, photographers, printmakers, digital artists, muralists.

Writers: poets, lyricists, flash fiction authors, and storytellers
Open to creatives who live, work, or create in Franklin or nearby communities.

What We’re Looking For artisans that have a Franklin Connection! Examples of Franklin connection: work here, from here, took classes here, married someone from here, favorite shop is here etc. and include your Franklin connection in your submission. 
Artwork or short written pieces (poems, lyrics, or very short stories) that reflect the essence of Franklin—its community, creativity, culture, seasons, and shared spaces. Themes can include nature, community connection, public gathering, small-town life, cultural expression, or the passage of seasons.

Selected Creatives Will Receive:
Featured placement in the seasonal printed guides
Artist/writer credit and short feature with your name and contact/social info + artist statements
Promotion via Franklin Culture’s digital platforms

Timeline:
Submission Deadline: August 1st
Fall Guide Release: September 18th

How to Submit:
Email 3–5 art samples (JPEG or PDF) or 1–2 written pieces (under 250 words each), along with a short bio and why you’d like to participate and an artist statement/bio (whatever feels more relevant to the work), the Director of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy Cory Shea, Cshea@franklinma.gov with the subject line: FCD Creative Submission 

Whether your tools are a paintbrush, a camera, or a pen—we’d love for you to help us showcase the talent and spirit of Franklin in our Cultural District guides.

Social Media Headers (2)

Note all of these 'public calls' have concluded.

Call for Artists: Exciting Opportunities in Franklin!

The Town of Franklin invites local and regional artists to showcase their creativity through a variety of upcoming public art initiatives. 

Applications are now open for the Artsy Box Project (Deadline: April 25), Fairy Trails and Franklin Tales (Sign-up Deadline: April 26), the Micro Gallery RFP (Deadline: May 1), and The Art of Play: Franklin's Cornhole Project (Deadline: May 1). 

These projects celebrate the arts in Franklin, offering artists the chance to engage the community in unique and interactive ways. Don’t miss your opportunity to be part of these exciting creative endeavors! Click the links above to learn more and apply.


Franklin Cultural District's Artsy Box Project
Submission Deadline: April 25th - Click here for submission link. 
[Includes artist Stipend]

Fairy Trails and Franklin Tales
Deadline to sign up: April 26th - Click here to sign up.

Micro Gallery RFP
Submission Deadline: May 1st - Click here for RFP process.
[Includes artist stipend]

The Art of Play: Franklin's Cornhole Project
Submission Deadline: May 1st - Click here for submission link.
[Includes artist stipend]

Call for Artists & Writers Featured in the Franklin Cultural District Seasonal Guides: Summer and Fall/Winter 2025
Submission Deadline May 21st, Click here for more details.

[Click here to see our call for 'Writers and Poets']

Q & A

If I apply, do I automatically get in?
Only in the case of the Fairy Trails and Franklin Tales program. All other submission processes will undergo a selection from an ad hoc art committee. 

How will I be notified about these projects?
All acceptance and any correspondence will be generated via EMAIL - please make sure the email you enter at submission is one you actively check.

How are these projects being funded?
The Artsy Box program is coordinated by the Franklin Cultural District Committee; with grant funding provided by a Cultural District grant given by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.  

Fairy Trails and Franklin Tales is a collaboration between the Depart. of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy and the Public Library offering free connective program. This project is free to participate in; and welcomes all community members to showcase their own eco friendly fair houses.

The Micro Gallery RFP and the Art of Play: Franklin's Cornhole Project is funded through a Public Art Earmark that was generously bestowed on the Town of Franklin, thank you to Senator Rebecca Rausch. These interactive platforms enables community members to participate with art, 'off the wall,' as well as paying local artists for their work.

Can I sell the work while its on display?
All work that is presented in a town-run exhibition on town owned property cannot be for sale; and cannot be marketed for sale while on display.

Have further questions? Please reach out to the Director of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Cory Shea cshea@franklinma.gov