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NYC Artists Fleeing: Affordable Housing Crisis Spurs Exodus
10 Feb
Summary
- Artist population in NYC has declined over 4% since 2019.
- Lack of affordable housing is the primary driver of this exodus.
- Other cities like Philadelphia and Nashville see artist population growth.
New York City is experiencing its first sustained decline in artist population in decades, with a drop of over 4% since 2019. A report from the Center for an Urban Future identifies a critical lack of affordable housing as the main driver behind this exodus.
Artists like curator Rowynn Dumont have moved to more affordable cities, finding better living conditions and community elsewhere. Pianist Danny Darress also left New York, citing high living costs and the impracticality of managing gigs without affordable parking.
The report highlights significant artist population decreases in neighborhoods like the Upper West Side and Lower East Side. Meanwhile, cities such as Philadelphia and Nashville have seen their artist populations grow since 2019.
While New York City has not built artist-preferred housing units since 2015, other cities have developed numerous affordable artist housing projects. The Center for an Urban Future advocates for 5,000 artist housing units by 2030, a goal that faces challenges regarding fair housing laws and public perception.
Gallery owner Daniel Aycock, who relocated his business to the Hudson Valley, also notes the shift, stating that many artists he previously worked with have moved upstate for more space and affordability. He questions the feasibility of creating sufficient housing to revive the city's artistic appeal.
