I’ve lived in New York City for just over 17 years now, and there was probably not a single year that I didn’t think about leaving. I adore the city, but it’s really hard to live here—to afford it, to find a reasonable space to live that is also in a neighborhood I’d actually want to spend time in, to feel the thrum of ambition in the air and not be overwhelmed by it. And so on. It’s also one of the most rewarding, thrilling places to live. A city where you feel like you’re face to face with your own potential every day.
Everybody has strong feelings about New York, and everyone moves here for a reason. It’s never casual, deciding to live here. Nor is it easy to leave. Which is why I was so intrigued by an online project called “Artist Exit Interview.” Artists who are moving out of New York are invited to answer a questionnaire—like the exit interview you do with Human Resources when you leave a job—about why they came here, why they’re leaving, what they’ll miss about the city, and what they won’t miss. Here’s an excerpt from an exit interview that I found especially wistful:
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What brought you to NYC?
I came to get my MFA in painting at Pratt Institute.
Why are you leaving NYC?
Money is a big issue. I have a job that is flexible and pays enough to allow time in the studio back in Minnesota. There is not enough green space in NYC. The fast, loud pace and crush of humanity is wearing on me. The money I save not living in NY will go toward visiting NY.
Where are you moving to?
Minneapolis, MN USA
What will you miss LEAST about NYC?
I will not miss constantly hemorrhaging cash, the subway, the noise and constant crush of people.
What will you miss MOST about NYC?
I’ll miss the large community of people that care and are educated about art. I’ll also miss the diversity of people in NY and of course the fantastic galleries and museums. MN has some good museums and galleries, but in general it’s slim pickins.
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The Artist Exit Interview was founded by Brooklyn-based Street Level Initiative. “We examine what artists have, what they want, and what they need,” they explain at their website. “We use this research to inform our programming and to develop resources that strengthen and sustain our creative communities. Our goal is to enable creative people the ability to sustain their lives in the communities they help create.”
In their view, New York is “hemorrhaging artists, especially emerging ones,” and this project is a way to find out why. If you’re a New York–based photographer planning to leave the city, you should consider taking the Artist Exit Interview and adding your voice to the discussion.
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Moving out of NYC? Take the Artist Exit Interview first.
I’ve lived in New York City for just over 17 years now, and there was probably not a single year that I didn’t think about leaving. I adore the city, but it’s really hard to live here—to afford it, to find a reasonable space to live that is also in a neighborhood I’d actually want to spend time in, to feel the thrum of ambition in the air and not be overwhelmed by it. And so on. It’s also one of the most rewarding, thrilling places to live. A city where you feel like you’re face to face with your own potential every day.
Everybody has strong feelings about New York, and everyone moves here for a reason. It’s never casual, deciding to live here. Nor is it easy to leave. Which is why I was so intrigued by an online project called “Artist Exit Interview.” Artists who are moving out of New York are invited to answer a questionnaire—like the exit interview you do with Human Resources when you leave a job—about why they came here, why they’re leaving, what they’ll miss about the city, and what they won’t miss. Here’s an excerpt from an exit interview that I found especially wistful:
.
.
The Artist Exit Interview was founded by Brooklyn-based Street Level Initiative. “We examine what artists have, what they want, and what they need,” they explain at their website. “We use this research to inform our programming and to develop resources that strengthen and sustain our creative communities. Our goal is to enable creative people the ability to sustain their lives in the communities they help create.”
In their view, New York is “hemorrhaging artists, especially emerging ones,” and this project is a way to find out why. If you’re a New York–based photographer planning to leave the city, you should consider taking the Artist Exit Interview and adding your voice to the discussion.
.
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