Artists, if you want space, a low cost of living, great people, an amazing lake in the summer and easy access to Chicago, Pittsburgh, DC, Toronto and even NYC (c'mon just a short 8 hour drive) You can get huge warehouse loft space for super cheap. In my building artists are working and living for super low prices. Because there is lots of space in the town. And forget about what people say about the city being unsafe. It is not. Sure there are places you shouldn't go, but that's in all cities. The weather is only bad for a few months. Spring, summer and Fall is beyond amazing in Cleveland. As an artist, you should not let the space dictate what you do. Artists need space to be free and create. Cleveland has space and it's relatively cheap to live here. With the internet you can market your work from anywhere

You'd only live in NYC if you plan on living in Manhattan. And then you've got to be upper middle class to rich to live in Manhattan. It's not an artist's city anymore.

In 1980, after college, I moved to East Village from Pittsburgh and lived there for 10 wonderful years. My boyfriend was an artist. Met my hubby there. Then we moved to Cleveland. (yes, I am old) NYC is one of a kind, but it isn't what it used to be...too Disney-fied for me.. And too damn expensive.And everyone walks around in their own little iphone/ipo/cellphone bubble.But that's just my opinion. I currently live in a 2500sf foursquare built in 1900 with beautiful old woodwork and lead windows, in Lakewood, a burb next to Cleveland. Nice schools, walkable neighborhoods, on the lake...we love it here. You can buy a house like ours for under $200,000, easy. MUCH cheaper in the city of Cleveland, of course. Cleveland has much of what you can find in NYC, but MUCH less of it. Do I need 100 really good Indian restaurants when 2 will do? I don't see how artists can afford to live in NYC anymore. Come on out to Cleveland all you artsy types! It's gritty, but has some great things to offer. And you don't have to move away when you want to buy a house!

There's old friends and new friends and even a bear.

Its no wonder artists are moving. Look at what the police state here in NYC does to free people...http://bit.ly/htU4Pw

Most Gothamist readers can afford to rent or own a veritable palace in Cleveland. If you need to be constantly surrounded by art and high culture (and money), then it's not the place the place for you. However, if what you want is a high standard of living and the freedom and space to seriously do your own thing, Cleveland is great. Of course, you won't have the luxury of 2 million other transplants around to validate why you're there, but you never really needed that either, now did you? ;)

Go Browns.

Well stated. :)

I've never been (I'm stuck in another mistake by the lake) but I like that they're most famous residents are jerry springer and bone thugs n' harmony. nice work, cleveland.

Just another tale of people that prefer to be Big Fish in a small pond.

Cleveland, Portland, Austin, Sarasota, Northampton, many man more small American cities, it's all the same.

Its hard to live two lives in the city - one for survival working and one for your personal art - many can't and don't want to handle it.

Makes sense, but who cares.

I loved living in NYC, but am happier now in CLE and the availability of space, resources, and cost of living make it a better place to be an artist. I'm sorry to hear of starboard07's experience, I have the complete opposite - quiet large spaces, safe and comfortable living, etc. And I'm seeing a few others who agree, as a few other transplants are delightedly discovering the same. But you've got to be where you are inspired to work, right? If you need to feel that you're in a bigger city to do your work, then stay in new york. If you can be more independent and self-reliant, then you can take advantage of the cities like cleveland that offer you different benefits. One note - you've got to be tougher to handle these colder winters...here comes the snow...

why wouldn't you just move to chicago instead? it's basically free to rent here and it's an actual thriving city, which isn't really the case with poor cleveland.

find someone else who calls Cleveland 'CLE' who doesn't work in an airport/fly a plane/etc

I do.

Cleveland isn't miserable, it's really nice! Baltimore, Detroit... those are miserable.

I'll go ahead and guess that the *good* artists are staying in NYC. Smell ya later, chaff!

No, no, guys, let the snarky NY artists stay where they are and work as waiters to pay their ridiculous rents, while they maintain their beloved elitism. The rest of us can still make our living as artists here in Cleveland, with the low cost of living and incredibly $upportive customers.

The position of being the main arts city in the U.S. is open, because artists and prospective artists simply can't afford the high New York rents. However, no other city has stepped up to the plate.

Perhaps a comparison of the violent crimes for each location would be a good unbiased way to compare. Drop the drama and get at the facts.

That should say "moving BACK to Cleveland"

As a new yorker temporarily residing in cleveland for school, I must warn anyone considering this awful hell hole to SERIOUSLY reconsider. It is the most awful place I have ever experienced. I've tried to find the charm, but every time i think there's a glimmer I get smacked in the face (or jumped while running on a pleasant autumn afternoon in the "safe" part of town). The art museum is wonderful but women have been raped by the pond out front in the middle of a sunny summer afternoon. And the orchestra IS top notch and an excellent experience, if you don't mind being held at gunpoint and robbed on your way out.
Yes these are hazards of a big city, but I've lived in New York and I've lived in Philadelphia and I never feared for my life, on a daily basis just leaving my apartment. And I truly wish this were an exaggeration, but this doesn't even begin to skim the surface