Art and the Rust Belt
Nov. 6th, 2014 09:55 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vinceconawayI've said this before, to laughter and disdain, but the Rust Belt is where the next American renaissance is being born. There's urban density, cosmopolitanism, and cheap rent, which cause an escalating network effect. Artists can no longer afford New York, but two month's Manhattan rent can buy you a house in Michigan.
I'm a fan of Richard Florida, and his book The Rise of the Creative Class, and one thing that he mentions as being key to habitability for artists is a socially tolerant attitude towards homosexuality. Now that gay marriage is sweeping across the US, this is becoming much less of an issue, but its legacy remains; one of Florida's examples of a revitalized city is Pittsburgh, which has shed the steel industry to become a leader in health and education.
Another factor in a Rust Belt Renaissance is the area's compactness: a regional tour can take in easily a dozen major cities, none of which are more than four hours' drive apart. The South is cheap, but too spread out: artists and crafters can make a living in one place (and being in a tourist magnet like New Orleans or St Augustine helps), but performing artists need to travel*.
A final factor is health care: many Rust Belt states are in the process of expanding medicaid coverage under the ACA (come on Wisconsin, catch up!) I do well for a musician, but I may never make more than $16k after business deductions, and I'm finally in a position to have a primary care physician.
I've toured the world, and I've no intention of slowing down yet, but this Ohio boy is starting to appreciate his home.
*the exception being those who do everything: I have a friend who's happy sticking to Denver, but he teaches guitar and plays in three different styles in four different bands.
I'm a fan of Richard Florida, and his book The Rise of the Creative Class, and one thing that he mentions as being key to habitability for artists is a socially tolerant attitude towards homosexuality. Now that gay marriage is sweeping across the US, this is becoming much less of an issue, but its legacy remains; one of Florida's examples of a revitalized city is Pittsburgh, which has shed the steel industry to become a leader in health and education.
Another factor in a Rust Belt Renaissance is the area's compactness: a regional tour can take in easily a dozen major cities, none of which are more than four hours' drive apart. The South is cheap, but too spread out: artists and crafters can make a living in one place (and being in a tourist magnet like New Orleans or St Augustine helps), but performing artists need to travel*.
A final factor is health care: many Rust Belt states are in the process of expanding medicaid coverage under the ACA (come on Wisconsin, catch up!) I do well for a musician, but I may never make more than $16k after business deductions, and I'm finally in a position to have a primary care physician.
I've toured the world, and I've no intention of slowing down yet, but this Ohio boy is starting to appreciate his home.
*the exception being those who do everything: I have a friend who's happy sticking to Denver, but he teaches guitar and plays in three different styles in four different bands.
