A word of caution to artists who want to come to San
Miguel to make a career for themselves. The demographics of this city have
changed drastically over the last 5 years, and most of the expats from the US
and Canada who are coming here are not very interested in art, education or
culture. Apparently, all the hype about San Miguel being the world's best city to visit (not to live in, mind you) has spurred people who are seeking the "good life" to come here by the busload. Some of the latest evidence to confirm this – three serious Lifelong
Learning classes scheduled for this July and August have just been cancelled
due to low enrollment. A friend of mine who was offering acting for beginners starting
in June could not find enough students to fill the class. And even the two
anchor institutions, Bellas Artes and the Instituto Allende, seem to be
offering fewer and fewer art classes. Ditto for individual artist who teach here.
The city's culture is suffering a rapid death by tourism.
So be advised, dear artists – if you are in your
30s, 40s or 50s and want to make a living as a teaching-artist, go elsewhere. Go
to Europe. Go to Florence, Paris, Prague, Berlin, or Barcelona, but do not come to San
Miguel. More and more, the city is a place for retirees living on social
security and small pensions, and they are people who lack the means and/or the
desire to buy art.The city's culture is suffering a rapid death by tourism.
I regret sounding so gloomy and pessimistic, but that’s my perception of what’s happening here. I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t think so. The city is in serious cultural decline and I don’t see it recovering its former “magic” any time soon.
So this may be my last post. There’s nothing more to
say about a dying city.