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Franklin presents arts-prescription pilot to Mass Cultural Council; organizers plan community event
Summary
Town of Franklin Director Cory Shea told the Council that Franklin received approval to use opioid-settlement funds for a pilot arts-prescription program; she said the town is building a master arts plan and will measure outcomes with methods used by Art Pharmacy.
Cory Shea, Town of Franklin Director of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, told the Massachusetts Cultural Council on Feb. 26 that Franklin recently received state approval to use part of its opioid settlement funds to pilot an arts-prescription program.
Shea explained why the town selected this approach and how it plans to implement the pilot, including partnerships and evaluation. When Council Member Ashley Occhino asked whether Franklin is following an arts-and-culture master plan, Shea said she hopes to have a master plan within two years and that she is “flying the plane while she builds it.” On program evaluation, Shea said Art Pharmacy has a method for measuring impact; she did not provide full evaluation details at the meeting but indicated that the town will share more information and that staff from the Council would participate in a community discussion on March 5.
Why it matters: the pilot repurposes opioid settlement funds for culturally based health interventions, joining a national trend of social-prescribing experiments that pair arts and culture with health and recovery services. Council members pressed on measurement and planning, and the agency offered upcoming opportunities for community engagement on March 5.
The Chair thanked Shea for the presentation and noted that Michael Bobbitt and Manager of Strategic Partnerships & Advancement Erik Holmgren will participate in the March 5 community discussion in Franklin; Shea said she would share a link to more information about the event. Cecil Barron Jensen asked how success will be measured; Shea said Art Pharmacy has a way to measure impact but did not specify metrics during her presentation.
The meeting record shows the Town of Franklin pilot is moving forward with state approval to use opioid-settlement funds; the Council requested follow-up and additional details from staff as the local program develops.
