The Future Stakes: Why Creative Workers May Leave

The numbers are clear: 60% of artists make under $25,000 a year, and more than half don’t have a financial safety net. That isn’t just a problem for individual workers, it’s a systemic threat. Without better wages, housing security, and long-term support, New York risks a talent exodus. Cities like Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Chicago are already drawing creatives with lower living costs and expanding cultural funding.

The urgency is growing. What was once seen as a lifestyle tradeoff, living poor in a rich creative scene, has become an unsustainable proposition for many. If New York fails to act, it may lose the very sector that drives $110 billion in city economic impact and fuels tourism worth $74 billion annually.

Shifting the Investme

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