According to a recent research, Chicago is the best U.S. city for people working in the creative industries.
Why it matters: The city is a top travel destination for visitors and art enthusiasts because to its thriving creative culture.
The overall picture: Chicago comes in at number four in the planet, after Tokyo, London, and Paris.
Chicago nearly edged out San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles among American cities.
Methodology: The study examines variables such as artist, graphic artist, performer, and musician incomes and expenses.
The quantity of available creative occupations
The number of art galleries and museums
The quantity of parks and green space
The accessibility of creative workshops and classes
Current Situation: Chicago has devoted a year of city programming to music, theater, art, and, starting in 2022, dance in an effort to spotlight its creative and cultural communities.
The Chicago Arts Recovery Program, which will give $11 million to NGOs in the arts and an additional $4.5 million to help arts groups still recovering from the pandemic in 2023, was also recently announced by the city.
In 2024, the city’s department of cultural affairs will still offer awards to individual artists. The yearly initiative expects to award 250 artists up to $6,000 each this year.
Although Chicago might be the nation’s top city for creatives, we only rank sixth in terms of compensation.
$68,632 is our average. The average compensation for creatives in San Francisco is $86,300, although living expenses are greater there.
Also, the study uses the quantity of parks and art galleries to arrive at its rankings, yet neither aspect affects how creatives and artists can make ends meet in the face of rising rents and inflation.
What they’re saying: Printmaker Megan Sterling tells Axios that “basic needs are becoming harder for artists” as a result of inflation.
