Boston’s costs challenge artists trying to thrive

BOSTON – Can Boston compete with New York and Los Angeles artistically? Statistics indicate the competition so far hasn't favored the Bay State capital, as just 3 percent of working artists in America can be found in Massachusetts, compared with 11 percent in New York and 28 percent in California, according to educationnews.org. While the raw numbers suggest that Boston lags far behind New York City and Los Angeles as a center for the arts. But according to Richard Florida, author of "Rise of t

BOSTON – Can Boston compete with New York and Los Angeles artistically? Statistics indicate the competition so far hasn't favored the Bay State capital, as just 3 percent of working artists in America can be found in Massachusetts, compared with 11 percent in New York and 28 percent in California, according to educationnews.org. While the raw numbers suggest that Boston lags far behind New York City and Los Angeles as a center for the arts. But according to Richard Florida, author of "Rise of t…