I am disheartened to see that cities are now considered "artistic/cultural centers" if they have galleries. Any city can have a gallery, or two....hell, even twenty. I am even more disheartened to see quality artists leaving cities, such as New York City because they have been pushed from the gentrified city limits. The betterment of neighborhoods is exceptional but we must leave room for those in fields where greed, manipulation and outlandish bonuses are not common practice.
Take for instance our Nation's Capital. Washington DC has galleries, cutltural institutions, etc. but I would be hard pressed to find someone who says, "Washington DC is know for it's thriving arts scene."
Cities need, in fact they must keep, their artists in residence. We need creative minds and innovators or else we become nothing more than machines. To be honest that is when modern society truly marks it's point of no return- when the artists, writers, etc. vanish.
