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Perhaps not everyone knows about the New York Foundation for the Arts. Although it is NYC-based, it highlights issues nationally for artists, including: scholarships, grants, housing, etc. This issue of their newsletter talks about housing:
Saugatuck, Michigan is a great small town for artists. It's home to the summer residence program for the Art Institute of Chicago, so that spurred a lot of artists to congregate in that area. It's a beach town on Lake Michigan with a lot of second home owners from Chicago since it's less than 2 hours away from the Loop. The downsides are that housing prices are pretty expensive for the Midwest (this isn't part of the down-and-out real estate market of Michigan overall - prices are more tied to the Chicago market) and it's slow during the winter months without as many tourists.
Hello, Frank the Tank, sorry I didn't thank you but just got a reminder that you had shared this fascinating area (after reading another of your posts in P&oC).
I wish it were possible--to literally--visit all of the suggestions we've had on the thread.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank the Tank
Saugatuck, Michigan is a great small town for artists. It's home to the summer residence program for the Art Institute of Chicago, so that spurred a lot of artists to congregate in that area. It's a beach town on Lake Michigan with a lot of second home owners from Chicago since it's less than 2 hours away from the Loop. The downsides are that housing prices are pretty expensive for the Midwest (this isn't part of the down-and-out real estate market of Michigan overall - prices are more tied to the Chicago market) and it's slow during the winter months without as many tourists.
More ideas, albeit smallish towns with an emphasis on the arts, try a search for John Villani's books (getting mixed reviews, though!).
Just perusing the comments at Amazon.com for the paperback version of The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America, I see these mentioned:
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Northport, Alabama
Boone, North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina
The inclusion of Northport, Alabama surprised me, but it is a river town just a stone's throw from Tuscaloosa, home to the University of Alabama. Probably revitalized now and affordable. Interesting.
I agree that Northport, Alabama is not an artsy town, I lived in Tuscaloosa which is next door for a few years and there is absolutely no art worth to mention in either town. I also lived in Hot Springs, AR and Ashville, NC, however I agree that there might be some minor art there.
thanks, tito, for dropping by and offering your views on some of the suggested towns.
I am about to leave Pittsburgh, tomorrow, and will write up a little blurb (in a day or three) on how much I think this city would be a good match for some. It has far more than I ever realized, and far more than I have been able to see.
I think people need to understand that Montana is a hard place for artists (actually anyone, not just artists) unless you are already well established or are rich. Housing is expensive compared to the wages paid for the few jobs that are available. Sure you can buy a house for as little as $150,000 in some of the more remote towns but it is tough to make those payments when most of the jobs available only pay $8-$11/hour (and many even less). And what many consider the artsy towns--Missoula and Bozeman are out of the question for most of us (the cheapest SF house in Bozeman right now is @$224,000 for 2 bed, 1300sf--most livable houses are much more). There are some well known artists that live here and manage to make a living but they are truly the exception. Most artists I know, myself included are not well known or established and have had to work at two or three jobs just to keep our heads above water, and then there is no time for making art. In fact, I am looking at moving to where I can afford to buy a house, slow down to just one job and do my art.
I also disagree with Lorelei. I worked and lived in Helena and it is far from affordable. Same story as above, low wages and ridiculously high priced real estate compared to the wages (although not yet as high as Bozeman or Missoula). Many of the people that were born here in Montana just can't afford to live here anymore. I wish it weren't true but somebody needs to warn people--Montana is a hard place to make a living unless you are willing to work, work, work and have no time to enjoy the natural beauty or do you art. If you are not already rich and need to work, think twice about moving here.
just posted on the Tampa forum and thought I'd ask here. anyone have knowledge/experience with the art scene there. Been doing research and I keep bumping into the place. I plan to run down there next week to visit their museum. thanks!
Thanks, jenzebel, for adding your POV on Montana and the arts. I noted you also posted in the Montana forum.
Certainly we all have so many varied ideas about cost of living, an artist community and art, in general.
It makes for some challenging, but interesting, conversations.
Thanks ontheroad. You are right, everyone has their different idea of paradise. I am looking forward to getting ideas from this post on some artist friendly but affordable places. I try to practice voluntary simplicity, so I really don't require much materially, but I would like an area where I can afford to buy or build a tiny home without working multiple jobs, uncrowded natural surroundings(because I have been and always will be a country gal) and some like-minded people in the area.
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) on how much I think this city would be a good match for some. It has far more than I ever realized, and far more than I have been able to see.
Think Twice About Moving to Montana
