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The NY Thrive and Drive
With the art scene constantly growing, it's hard to stay ahead but artists seem to manage and make it work.
ew York, home to competition and restless nights. Businesses grow here. Opportunities grow here. But most importantly, the art scene grows here. With New York being one of the most competitive cities in the country, it’s a constant struggle for artists to stay on top. Whether a writer, musician, designer, or visual artist, building up a brand is its own full time job.
“Being an artist is emotionally hard, beyond being difficult to do, especially living in New York City, where everything is so expensive,” says Deshawn Dumas, visual artist.
According to a 2014 report from a collective of artists and others called BFAMFAPHD, nearly 11 percent of artists live below the poverty line on an annual income of $11,702. That’s below average than the normal working class person.
The common idea in society today is that if you fully invest yourself in your passion, it will take years before you see any progression and success. Artists have made it a habit to use resources to their advantage as a way to speed up the progression process with their brands.
"With the development of the internet and social media, my generation of artists possess so many resources and opportunities to put our work out there ourselves that we can't wait around and depend on
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