Wesley Verhoeve's latest project, titled 'One of Many,' was sparked by his observance of two major shifts, the first being that creatives are moving out of the designated cultural mecca's (New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles), and the second that, perhaps because of this move, creatives are becoming more independent with their work.
Verhoeve traveled to 12 different cities, which he describes as "Cities where the cost of living is more conducive to creative entrepreneurship for those without a trust fund or the extra time to work a few jobs on the side."
The project, which is available to peruse online, senses that the present moment might indeed be a very important and significant one for the world of creative entrepreneurship.
Contemporary Creative Portraits
Wesley Verhoeve Photographs Creative Talent in Lesser-Known Cities
Trend Themes
1. Creatives Moving Out - The trend of creatives moving out of traditional cultural meccas opens up disruptive innovation opportunities in the real estate industry for developing creative hubs in lesser-known cities.
2. Rise of Independent Creatives - The trend of creatives becoming more independent with their work offers disruptive innovation opportunities in the gig economy, providing platforms and services tailored for freelancers and independent creatives.
3. Growing Creative Entrepreneurship - The trend of a growing number of creative entrepreneurs in cities with a lower cost of living presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the education and training industry for specialized programs and resources targeted at nurturing creative talent.
Industry Implications
1. Real Estate - The real estate industry can seize the opportunity by developing affordable and desirable spaces for creatives in emerging creative hubs.
2. Gig Economy - The gig economy industry can embrace the trend by creating platforms and services that cater specifically to the needs of independent creatives and freelancers.
3. Education and Training - The education and training industry can tap into the demand for specialized programs and resources to support and nurture the growing number of creative entrepreneurs entering the market.