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Arts Reporter Shares Highlights Of First Five Months

Willis Ryder Arnold

St. Louis Public Radio arts and culture reporter Willis Ryder Arnold had not spent time in St. Louis before starting his job in August, but already the region has made an impression.

“It’s an interesting place. It’s got a lot going on, and a lot it needs to work out, I think,” Arnold told “Cityscape” host Steve Potter on Friday. “There’s a lot of creativity here, and a lot of creative people. People are just very connected to each other here.”

Arnold moved to St. Louis from New York.

“I’ve talked to a fair amount of artists here in the city that all say that one of the reasons they’ve come here or decided to stay here is because they’re able to focus on their work. They’re able to make it like a life project instead of having to worry as much as you do in New York about making rent or paying bills and acquiring space if you work in something like sculpture. Here, people are able to expand what their interests are and actually focus on making the things they want to make without the pressures of conforming to a saleable art scene that exists in New York, specifically in the gallery world.”

Read Arnold's coverage of St. Louis arts and culture.

“Cityscape” is produced by Mary Edwards and Alex Heuer and sponsored in part by the Missouri Arts Council, the Regional Arts Commission, and the Arts and Education Council of Greater St. Louis.