“Why Kansas City exactly?” My partner and I fielded this question frequently from friends, family, and the public at large before our move from Portland, OR to the Midwest. It wasn’t unreasonable, given our decision to take ourselves from what is widely seen as a haven for young creatives to an area of the country assumed as having far fewer career opportunities.
What we weren’t expecting, however, was just how often we’d experience this same line of questioning from our new neighbors here in KC. As we acclimate to our midwestern surroundings, our answer remains the same as when we arrived: “Kansas City is having its moment, and we’ve made sure we’re here for it.”
Much like Seattle in the ‘90s, Portland managed to tap into the cultural zeitgeist circa 2010, prompting creators and professionals alike to relocate to the Pacific Northwest. After some time (and the debut of a certain eponymous sketch show), PDX took its place in the national spotlight as a destination for creative types. Initially, I was thrilled to witness and take part in the exciting expansion of art and culture in my city. That is, until the whole situation reached critical mass.
The boom naturally led to intense competition between creators for exposure. Gradually, the once inclusive nature of Portland’s professional and creative cultures became much less welcoming. These changes, along with more tangible issues relating to housing prices and an oversaturated job market, prompted my partner and I to look for a new start elsewhere.
Curiosity and USA Today city rankings eventually led us to decide on Kansas City. At first, we were apprehensive about what the Midwest could offer us that our home of eight years couldn’t. These fears were quickly dispelled soon after our move. What we had hoped for, and what we ended up finding, was a city interested in welcoming newcomers as it continues to invest in its own revitalization.
I ended up finding a position with an arts program in the Crossroads just as we had finished unpacking. This quickly introduced me to a creative scene built on inclusivity and openness — a far cry from the bloodsport I left behind. Now, 6 months later, I continue to find myself surrounded by like minded individuals invested in seeing those in their related fields succeed.
Every member of KC’s creative culture seems to share an interest in forming connections and creating opportunities for collaboration. For me, it’s these attitudes that serve to validate our decision to transplant our lives from west to midwest.
This isn’t to say that Kansas City couldn’t borrow a few ideas from my former hometown.
Among other things, Portland offers many low-cost and free resources for artists. Workshops, classes, & studio spaces are funded by different commercial and non profit enterprises throughout the city that allow burgeoning creators to utilize resources that might normally be unavailable to them. I believe we’re just now seeing the beginnings of these programs here in Kansas City.
There’s still a lot for us to discover after only being in KC a few months. We’re just starting to explore the well-established food, drink, and music scenes we moved here hoping to experience. But even in our short time here we’ve been inspired by the energy of the city and the perspectives we’ve been introduced to.
The vibrant cultural landscape of our new home always makes explaining our move much easier to friends and family on the coast. We’re here to take part in the evolution of the New Midwest, and we’re glad we made it in time.
