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Arts director tells FinCom arts budget is a tiny share of town spending and drives economic activity
Summary
Corey, Franklin’s director of arts and culture, told the Finance Committee the department accounts for just 0.079% of the town budget and urged the committee to preserve and modestly expand marketing to grow cultural tourism and local business revenue.
Corey, Franklin’s director of arts and culture and the creative economy, told the Finance Committee on April 9 that the department “represents just 0.079% of the entire town budget” and urged members to recognize arts and culture as an economic development tool.
Corey said the department leverages external grants and partnerships — citing the Franklin Downtown Partnership and a revived seasonal program started in 2024 — to bring regional visitors to town. “An increased investment in targeted social media advertising would expand the program’s reach beyond Franklin, attracting regional visitors, which in turn drives attendance … and translates directly into revenue for local businesses,” Corey said.
In his remarks, Corey explained how modest marketing spending could multiply local economic impact: if 100 additional regional visitors spend between $25 and $75 each at downtown businesses, that could produce several thousand dollars in direct economic activity from a small budget increase.
Corey also acknowledged communicating financial details is a work in progress: he said he plans to improve metric tracking and described ongoing efforts to collect survey feedback and measure reach and participation since taking the role in February 2024.
Why it matters: The arts office is small by dollars but visible in the community, and its work overlaps with tourism promotion, small‑business support and senior programming. The budget request includes raising marketing from $5,000 to $12,000; Corey said that additional spending is intended to grow one‑day programs into recurring cultural draws that support broader economic goals.
What's next: The Finance Committee pulsed members about line items and did not immediately vote to cut or restore the arts director position or the proposed marketing increase. Those recommendations will be part of the committee’s formal guidance to town council during upcoming budget hearings.
Source: Remarks by Corey to the Finance Committee, April 9 (public presentation).
