“A nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.”

Mahatma Gandhi

Who doesn’t want to live in the “cool” part of town?

The places we go to hear music, see performances, and be inspired by creations beyond our own imaginations.  What is so magical about those parts of town and how do they come to be?  Local Artists.  

Local artists bring more than entertainment to any given community, but also have a direct impact on the culture and economy.  Artists bring value and create interest. 

I think when we hear “Support local artists”, we often think of it from a place of charity or settling for something less, but I think it’s time to rewrite that script.  What’s important to recognize is that artists provide something unique to their community and can connect to their fellow members in a way that only they could, as they live with the same subtleties and complexities that exist with the landscape of any given location.  They see the people, beliefs and geography, and experience the unique way they all fit together.  Local artists help interpret challenges and reflect realities that exist within the community.  The stronger our community of artists, the more creative we all become, which translates into things like innovative medicine, efficient construction, empathetic communication, advanced education, and the list goes on.   

So knowing what we have to gain, what keeps us from choosing local artists?

1.  Accessibility: Artists aren’t always the best organizers, and it becomes difficult to even know where to start looking to find one.  I think this is why we choose to buy more generic art online instead of seeking out something more exclusive from our local talent.  Artists aren’t making it easy enough to find them and see what they do.

Remedy:  Tune into your community and find out who the local artists are.  You likely have someone right in your own neighborhood, though many artists are more introverted and won’t seek you out.  This does not mean, however, that an artist is resistant to meeting new people; there is no greater compliment than when you engage with and connect with an artist through their work.  Despite often being more introverted, artists often network within their creative circles.  Searching through local connections can not only lead you to the right artist, who can create something exciting and unique for you, but will provide you with rich cultural experiences along the way as you become aware of and participate within these circles.  

2. Confidence: In the land of art, as consumers we seem to suddenly lose our sense of self-awareness and confidence, which often leads us to trust others to make our decisions for us.  Because we may not have the words to articulate how to respond to art, we somehow consider  our emotions less valid.  

Remedy: Trust your emotions and their validity.  Give yourself permission to have a connection.  Artwork itself gains validity from the connection someone has with it.  If there is not connection, it is simply an object or noise.  If you see or experience art that elicits an emotional response, then that makes it valuable to you.  You should determine its value.  You don’t need someone else to tell you it’s valuable.  Its connective power is what, in fact, makes it valuable.  

3. Perception: We have been told that the “best” art and artists only live in certain places: New York, LA, London, etc., and although these places are rich and deep in the arts, it doesn’t mean we do not have art and artists just as good or better in our own backyard.  What makes these places rich in the arts is that their community supports it and recognizes its value—which allows it to grow—and they have been for a very long time.  We see the cumulative effect.  Why aren’t all communities capable of the same thing?  What’s missing?  

Remedy:  See, believe, and validate the value that artists bring and have pride in your local creative community.  See the creative accomplishments of your community as a reflection on you because you are connected.  This is not so far from how cities rally behind sports teams.  A team that represents them and has its own personality.  If you rally behind your local artists, they will continue to be driven, not by the money you invest, but by the passion and pride they intrinsically have in their craft and their community.