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Ellen Belcher is the Dayton Daily News opinion pages editor. She writes about state government, education, the environment, higher education and all things Dayton.
Martin Gottlieb is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He focuses on the political process itself and does such national issues as war, the economy, taxes and Social Security, as well as a hodge-podge of local and state issues.Home > Blogs > A Matter of Opinion > Archives > 2009 > March > 05 > Entry
Brooke Bryan: Not all ‘creatives’ choose NYC
I beg to differ with Richard Florida’s somewhat doomsday forecast of Midwestern cities in The Atlantic .
Florida forecasts that people will continue to concentrate in the gold-standard handful of cities currently enjoying an influx; and that the growth of mega-regions — or multi-city corridors — will continue to strip less prime areas of their mobile, educated, and innovative workforce. The article looks at how the economic bust will hasten and concretize the trend.
He cites the diversified economy of New York City as the reason it will be spared serious deleterious effects in the present bust. NYC is a breeding ground for arts and media and culture, a longstanding stronghold of the creative class — surely part of the genesis of the creative class theory.
But what of the cost of living?
For Florida, this is a side note. But as a freelance, day-job dodging fiber artist, writer, and mother, I can assure you that no cultural allure can cause me to live in a place where I may never afford an apartment larger than 700 square feet. Analysts think high median real estate prices mark a strong economy. For me, they signify it’s time to look elsewhere.
Apparently, I’m not alone in sensing a shift.
A New York Sun article (from pre-bust December 2007) entitled “New York in Danger of Losing Its Artists” cites the city’s efforts to retain its creatives.
The article quotes notable arts director Theodore Berger:
“It’s a question of how we attract and maintain talent in this city, and how that talent matures in the city.”
Now that sounds awfully familiar. New York is struggling to retain them. Dayton wants to attract them. The only thing we know for sure about the “bohemian” part of the “creative class” (questionable classifications with notably uncreative tags) is that it defies the status quo.
The point is that dominant social trends often present counter-trends of some significance. In my humble opinion, forecasts of a long-to-linger post-manufacturing interior tell us more about the creative class theory than about how creative people — driven by ideas and the want of basic freedoms — actually move through times and spaces.
Brooke Bryan is a journalist, multimedia folklorist and quilt maker. She runs the Web site for DaytonCREATE and is documenting the place and people of Yellow Springs.
Permalink | Comments (13) | Post your comment | Categories: Brooke Bryan, City of Dayton, Dayton Creative Class Initiative, Economy, Guest Columns
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By Bill Marvin
March 5, 2009 2:38 PM | Link to this
Ms. Bryan has made an excellent case. There is vibrant, creative life between the coasts. It is unfortunate that those who exist in the ingrown and insular coastal cultural centers fail to see or to look for talent beyond their own back yards. Sometimes the non coastal creative sorts must take the lead of the Wright Brothers in order to receive recognition. The coastal elites then, as now resisted going inland to witness the genesis of something big, new and exciting, like the birth of aviation. If an innovation is launched in the hinterland and no snobs bear witness, does it really exist?
By Phil Herzing
March 5, 2009 7:42 PM | Link to this
I agree with the author. While many creative types may choose mega-opolis environments like NYC and LA, that only tells part of the tale. Dayton, and other cities like Dayton, have all that a Young Creative might want, in addition to a more cozy urban environment. The big question is: How will these people hear about Dayton unless we step up our game in telling our story?
By Samuel
March 6, 2009 9:27 AM | Link to this
The problem is that anyone who can throw some paint on something or cobble together some junk into a “sculpture” is suddenly an artist or “creative” type. The crappy pop art usually gets purchased then trashed when the fad is over. REAL art takes actual discipline and talent. Columbus and Dayton (namely the Oregon District) is plagued with this junk pop art.
By Joe Cronin
March 6, 2009 10:54 AM | Link to this
I left NYC in 1989 for exactly the reasons cited by Ms. Bryant. I came back to Ohio to attend UC, rather than paying a fortune in rent to attend Columbia U. The fact of the matter is that there are lots of attractions that bring the creative class to Midwestern cities - hospitals, universities, arts and entertainment (symphonies, concert venues, museums) being among them. What is lacking in Midwestern cities, except for Chicago, are public transportation options that keep “creative” people in and around our cities. Anyway, good insights Ms. Bryant!
By Brooke
March 6, 2009 11:05 AM | Link to this
Samuel- it’s an interesting idea, that second tier creatives reside in second tier places. Can you post a couple of links to first tier creations (from wherever) so that I can explore the idea?
By tg
March 8, 2009 8:56 PM | Link to this
I don’t think there is anything wrong with being a big fish in a small pond. Dayton is a great place to live if you want to make a difference. In large cities, you’re just a number - a dime a dozen - and I’m not sure the stress necessarily provides a desired return. To me it’s a matter of quality of life - and we have that here in Dayton. It’s about living life, about having the disposable income to travel or to fully enjoy all that your community offers. When housing is exponentially more in a larger city, you better hope it offers all you’re looking for at value prices, because there is no money left over to visit other places.
By Carol Sampson
March 9, 2009 9:47 AM | Link to this
Today, creative means more that visual and performing arts. The minds that will take us further into this century and beyond will also include creative thinkers, that solve problems using creative solutions as well. Our educational systems and how we catch up in the world will require a great deal of creative formulation to jump start and envigorate the young minds living in our cities today. Spaces themselve need to exist so creatives can be engaged to discuss ideas that advance creative solutions. The’traditional’ spaces, galleries, coffee shops and the like can facilitate this process, but are not limited to because all segments of the population have contributions to make and we should make sure that inclusion and a variety of spaces exist throughtout to get the best thoughts on the table.
By generic
March 6, 2010 1:09 AM | Link to this
I protest against it.
By Forpoptinty
May 25, 2010 6:37 AM | Link to this
Nice and usefull note
By Speepaytegone
June 7, 2010 8:09 AM | Link to this
nice design!= and greate news
By blogg.no
June 15, 2010 2:05 PM | Link to this
realy good information
By скрытый маркетинг
October 28, 2010 3:38 AM | Link to this
Интересная мысль, возьму на заметку.
By eluraorircalm
November 21, 2010 4:19 AM | Link to this
Hi all. How are you?