Moving to The Big City from wherever you’re from can seem like an exciting prospect: the place you can Make It Big. But is it all it’s cracked up to be?
We have The Art Gorgeous Houses across the world, from Milan to London, Hong Kong to NYC. But should you need to be in a capital city to get fully involved with the artistic industries?
We think that access to the capital city of your country is always useful for being able to attend events, meetings, and get inspiration. But bankrupting yourself in the process because you’ve moved there? That’s something you can probably avoid.
We’re rounding up the benefits you can enjoy by not living in your capital city, and explaining how not only can you career survive, but thrive, in these smaller, more-remote locations.
Lower Rent
If you don’t work in an office in the capital (or even if you do) – how much of your week do you really need to spend there? You might be financially better off living in a nearby commuter town, and using the money you save on rent to travel into the capital when you need to. Living in a non-capital city or town will cost you less – and the air quality is probably better too!
Less Pressure
Living so close to other people in your field plus career events and networking opportunities can make you feel like you need to be hustling 24/7. Living away from the centre of your work will help to give you some perspective: work isn’t everything. You can travel into the city to live your badass boss fantasy, and come home to properly switch off. That means turning off your phone, too.
Real Community Impact
The amazing things you’re doing in your arts career in a capital city will often feel like a drop in the ocean – yes, you’re doing incredible stuff, but so is everyone else. Working in smaller companies and smaller communities, can mean that you see your work having proper impact. Helping a Madrid gallery become more accessible? Nice! Helping the only gallery in a small-town bring art to local communities who need it most? Truly brilliant.
New Influences
Chances are that you spend quite a lot of time in an echo chamber, seeing things and speaking to people that are already to your taste. Leaving larger cities and changing scene can be helpful to redirect your focuses and introduce you to new people and ways of working and innovating.
Photo vis theguardian
Author: Verity Babbs
