{"id":1980,"date":"2020-05-11T07:32:28","date_gmt":"2020-05-11T07:32:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/?p=1980"},"modified":"2022-11-21T09:08:27","modified_gmt":"2022-11-21T09:08:27","slug":"im-leaving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/11\/im-leaving\/","title":{"rendered":"Adelaide Fringe | I&#8217;m leaving"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><\/div>\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1980\" class=\"elementor elementor-1980\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0604ee9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0604ee9\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-59e69b0\" data-id=\"59e69b0\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c117f06 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c117f06\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><i>I&#8217;m Leaving<\/i> was the exhibition essay for\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/2019\/09\/23\/i-get-it-melbourne\/\"><em>I get it, you moved to Melbourne\u00a0<\/em>Adelaide Fringe 2020<\/a>. Part op-ed, part memoir, it explores the reasons young people jump cities. Scroll through the\u00a0<span style=\"letter-spacing: 0px;\">PDF booklet below or read the plain text following.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-72f9556 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"72f9556\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p  style=\"   margin: 12px auto 6px auto;   font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;   font-style: normal;   font-variant: normal;   font-weight: normal;   font-size: 14px;   line-height: normal;   font-size-adjust: none;   font-stretch: normal;   -x-system-font: none;   display: block;\"   ><a title=\"View I get it, you moved to Melbourne on Scribd\" href=\"https:\/\/www.scribd.com\/document\/451810905\/I-get-it-you-moved-to-Melbourne#from_embed\" style=\"text-decoration: underline;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">I get it, you moved to Melb...<\/a> by <a title=\"View Tahney Alexandra May&#039;s profile on Scribd\" href=\"https:\/\/www.scribd.com\/user\/83068036\/Tahney-Alexandra-May#from_embed\" style=\"text-decoration: underline;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tahney Alexandra May<\/a> on Scribd<\/p><iframe class=\"scribd_iframe_embed\" title=\"I get it, you moved to Melbourne\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scribd.com\/embeds\/451810905\/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&access_key=key-eheaddbolvi8IJeNLFQX\" data-auto-height=\"true\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.7058823529411765\" scrolling=\"no\" width=\"100%\" height=\"600\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4a4b4fd elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"4a4b4fd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-40c1634 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"40c1634\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2d43701\" data-id=\"2d43701\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f8340c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3f8340c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I am not from Adelaide<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Born in a town by a blue lake\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At ten months, walking<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A new sun-bleached town.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the river was dirty.<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I wasn\u2019t allowed to swim in it,\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I couldn\u2019t swim anyway.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Schooled on five-acres,\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Smelly tank turned seeds to towers\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sunday friends, proverbial preachers:\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jesus bled, the Beatles are evil, you\u2019re a whore.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">17 strangled by tote bags<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One Adelaide bus<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">four hours, home-to-campus<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A metro, my cousins for sleep.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One week, coming home\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was in boxes, that was it.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I haven\u2019t seen\u00a0that town since.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I don\u2019t remember that year<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the town in the hills\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before I left without boxes.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2194c09\" data-id=\"2194c09\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3646e0e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3646e0e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3 months on, a first share house\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3 musicians &amp; a stunt artist.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My breath in a bed that\u2019d collapse.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HECS let me go\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to Bristol with Sara and Sara\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">at Jen\u2019s. Cooking cod, mashy peas<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Until she ran in front of a bus.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Back to Adelaide<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">crept to my degree\u2019s end\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in a rental with no hot water\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and a housemate who never cleaned.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A graduate,\u202fin an inner-city unit\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">writing lists, laying on the floor\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the lights off. Over and over.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fell off my bike, inertia hit.<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over and over.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A desk job where I\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">microwaved water.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Then, an email:<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your application was successful.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That was it-\u202fI drove away, I can leave.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adelaide wasn\u2019t home.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maybe Melbourne could be.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ed41415 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ed41415\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-87713f4\" data-id=\"87713f4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bc48be5 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"bc48be5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6379ae1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6379ae1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u00a0<\/p><p>I<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> sit down at a cafe, my feet swollen from shopping around the city. A photographer asks if he can take my photo for his \u2018People of Adelaide\u2019 project. For some reason, I say yes, and then text my sister, who is running late because the city\u2019s public transport system is\u2026 a joke. It\u2019s Christmas holidays, the city centre is busier than usual, but I am still one of the only people at this cute French cafe. A guy a few tables down boasts to his silent friends about all the Japanese cafes popping up in Melbourne.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s short trips home like this that force rumination on why I was so eager to leave: Adelaide made me feel useless, in turn, I told the city it was inadequate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At 19, after only four months of living in Adelaide following a regional childhood, I spent a semester abroad at the University of Bristol. I was exposed to a city that was at once vibrant and accessible, somewhere I could satisfy both my ambitions and whims. Not long after returning, Adelaide became claustrophobic, without a cranny unexplored. Feeling limited, I moved to Melbourne and my world once again widened.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My itchy feet were rubbed the wrong way and I was out of there as soon as I could find a reason (a master\u2019s course). Meanwhile, friends and family stayed rooted, warmed up to a life within its boundaries,\u00a0seemingly satisfied by Adelaide\u2019s offerings. At first, I was judgemental, taking them as unambitious, while I gripped onto adventure. I no longer believe that naive narrative; it\u2019s not that adventurous to move state. It\u2019s about necessity. Still, I am not entirely positive about Adelaide, I am bitter about our incompatibility.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-cf12e78 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"cf12e78\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a37184b\" data-id=\"a37184b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a6dc119 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a6dc119\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"1985\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/11\/im-leaving\/attachment\/000001\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000001.jpg?fit=1818%2C1228&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1818,1228\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;SP-3000&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1577787933&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"000001\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000001.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000001.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1985\" alt=\"I&#039;m Leaving Exhibition Essay I get it you moved to Melbourne Adelaide Fringe 2020 by Tahney Fosdike\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000001.jpg?w=1818&amp;ssl=1 1818w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000001.jpg?resize=300%2C203&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000001.jpg?resize=1024%2C692&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000001.jpg?resize=768%2C519&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000001.jpg?resize=1536%2C1038&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000001.jpg?resize=1140%2C770&amp;ssl=1 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" data-attachment-id=\"1985\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/11\/im-leaving\/attachment\/000001\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000001.jpg?fit=1818%2C1228&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1818,1228\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;SP-3000&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1577787933&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"000001\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000001.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-18b4303 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"18b4303\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8d3ebaa\" data-id=\"8d3ebaa\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ac8877 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2ac8877\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The next day, I meet up with a friend at a cafe. She moved to Brisbane after her divorce but is also home for the holidays. Her new partner is amused at Adelaide\u2019s quaintness but empathetic to how people could get stuck in a rut here. She tells him, \u2018Well, yeah, living here is bad for your mental health.\u2019\u00a0<\/p><p>Rut is synonymous with complacency and almost resembles the satisfaction I feel three years after the thrill of my Melbourne move. Currently, I am cuddled up to many happy familiars: I love my cottage rental with its graffiti laneway, daily runs down Merri Creek, the same cafes on lazy Sunday mornings. Yet, I couldn\u2019t maintain this calm content with the anxiety of a lacklustre future. In Melbourne, my contentment comes with rewarded ambition. In Adelaide, my ambition was frustrated, warping fulfillment.\u00a0<\/p><p>I am swung by personal bias- the opportunities in Melbourne are vital to my career. If I stayed in Adelaide, I would have been in a rut. Yet, it\u2019s not only my personal preference, it\u2019s also endemic. The city repels hordes of young, creative people.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-016edb4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"016edb4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-417a58d\" data-id=\"417a58d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-755fec6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"755fec6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"1986\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/11\/im-leaving\/000009-1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000009-1.jpg?fit=1818%2C1228&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1818,1228\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;SP-3000&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1577787934&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"000009 (1)\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000009-1.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000009-1.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1986\" alt=\"I&#039;m Leaving Exhibition Essay I get it you moved to Melbourne Adelaide Fringe 2020 by Tahney Fosdike\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000009-1.jpg?w=1818&amp;ssl=1 1818w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000009-1.jpg?resize=300%2C203&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000009-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C692&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000009-1.jpg?resize=768%2C519&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000009-1.jpg?resize=1536%2C1038&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000009-1.jpg?resize=1140%2C770&amp;ssl=1 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" data-attachment-id=\"1986\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/11\/im-leaving\/000009-1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000009-1.jpg?fit=1818%2C1228&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1818,1228\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;SP-3000&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1577787934&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"000009 (1)\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000009-1.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d1a921c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d1a921c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d38600e\" data-id=\"d38600e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-27a9b98 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"27a9b98\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p dir=\"ltr\">\u2018For years, South Australia has faced an almost insurmountable problem \u2014 the lure of Melbourne,\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2019-12-08\/sas-eastern-states-exodus-continues-but-what-is-the-solution\/11749922\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">writes<\/a> ABC journalist Rebecca Puddy. For some time, Adelaide has experienced population loss from interstate migration, around a third 20-35-year-olds moving to Victoria. Coined the \u2018brain drain,\u2019 there are fewer young people living in South Australia now than in the 1980s with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.business-sa.com\/Commercial-Content\/Media-Centre\/Latest-Media-Releases\/lets-stop-the-brain-drain-grow-jobs-in-sa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BusinessSA surmising<\/a>, \u2018One of South Australia\u2019s most valuable exports is, sadly, our young people\u2019 and\u00a0 premier <a href=\"https:\/\/www.adelaidenow.com.au\/news\/south-australia\/exodus-of-south-australians-is-costing-the-economy-millions\/news-story\/864dc0346de01edd0a6fa27e9f01b7f4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Steven Marshall concluding<\/a>, \u2018A lot of our best and brightest younger people just don&#8217;t see a future here in South Australia.\u2019<\/p><p dir=\"ltr\">You don&#8217;t need to look further than the clich\u00e9s: Adelaide is boring, a sleepy country town stuck in the 1980s. With the second-to-<a href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2015-10-26\/sa-on-track-to-become-nations-worst-economy\/6884070\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">worst economy<\/a> in the country and rising unemployment, the \u2018brain drain\u2019 is not a short-term problem. The young and starry-eyed will leave permanently, dissatisfaction pushing them to seek lifestyles and job prospects<a href=\"https:\/\/www.adelaidenow.com.au\/news\/south-australia\/exodus-of-south-australians-is-costing-the-economy-millions\/news-story\/864dc0346de01edd0a6fa27e9f01b7f4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> \u2018bigger than Adelaide\u2019<\/a> (demographer Bernard Salt) in Melbourne. Sam Rodgers, in his blog <a href=\"https:\/\/anoddgeography.wordpress.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Leaving Adelaide<\/a>, noted that amongst his friends that had left, one had written an excel spreadsheet with 150 reasons prompting the move.\u00a0<\/p><p dir=\"ltr\">Yet, every now and again, perplexed Melbourne friends ask me, \u2018Why did you leave? Adelaide is such an artsy city. Surely, you could have found work?\u2019\u00a0These people, like those who think Hobart is an arts centre because of MONA, are overthinking the power of Adelaide\u2019s pride and joy- Mad March.<\/p><p dir=\"ltr\">Mad March encompasses Adelaide\u2019s condensed, frenzied festival season. It began 60 years ago with Adelaide Festival, <a href=\"http:\/\/\u2022 Adelaide Festival. \" data-wplink-url-error=\"true\">an innovation<\/a> at a time when, \u2018the city only had one motel, pubs closed at six and hedonists couldn\u2019t order wine in restaurants after 8pm.\u2019<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-127f798 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"127f798\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6d6940b\" data-id=\"6d6940b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-072a9cf elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"072a9cf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"1989\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/11\/im-leaving\/attachment\/000013\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000013.jpg?fit=1818%2C1228&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1818,1228\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;SP-3000&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1577787939&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"000013\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000013.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000013.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1989\" alt=\"I&#039;m Leaving Exhibition Essay I get it you moved to Melbourne Adelaide Fringe 2020 by Tahney Fosdike\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000013.jpg?w=1818&amp;ssl=1 1818w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000013.jpg?resize=300%2C203&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000013.jpg?resize=1024%2C692&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000013.jpg?resize=768%2C519&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000013.jpg?resize=1536%2C1038&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000013.jpg?resize=1140%2C770&amp;ssl=1 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" data-attachment-id=\"1989\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/11\/im-leaving\/attachment\/000013\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000013.jpg?fit=1818%2C1228&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1818,1228\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;SP-3000&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1577787939&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"000013\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000013.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-35c2e2b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"35c2e2b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8427676\" data-id=\"8427676\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aa267a3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"aa267a3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Now, there are around a dozen festivals, bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars and tourists en masse. It\u2019s a time near and dear to local hearts, mine included.\u00a0<\/p><p>After four weeks of late-night wine in the balmy parklands, seeing sideshows in tents or laughing at street performers,\u00a0the international acts and visitors empty out. The tumbleweeds return, leaving you square in the face of the city\u2019s actual economic and creative vitality.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><p>As a student and then a fresh graduate with my eye on an arts career, the festival incubator felt phony. At the crescendo of the festival season at summer\u2019s end, theatre nerds and Clipsal 500 bogans sat shoulder to shoulder at pubs. Yet, keen festival goers were nowhere to be seen at other times of the year. The condensed excitement bothered me to no end- why couldn\u2019t it be spread out?\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0163be5 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0163be5\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5d1307e\" data-id=\"5d1307e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4437723 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4437723\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"1991\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/11\/im-leaving\/000018-1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000018-1.jpg?fit=1818%2C1228&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1818,1228\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;SP-3000&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1577787978&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"000018 (1)\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000018-1.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000018-1.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1991\" alt=\"I&#039;m Leaving Exhibition Essay I get it you moved to Melbourne Adelaide Fringe 2020 by Tahney Fosdike\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000018-1.jpg?w=1818&amp;ssl=1 1818w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000018-1.jpg?resize=300%2C203&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000018-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C692&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000018-1.jpg?resize=768%2C519&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000018-1.jpg?resize=1536%2C1038&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000018-1.jpg?resize=1140%2C770&amp;ssl=1 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" data-attachment-id=\"1991\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/11\/im-leaving\/000018-1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000018-1.jpg?fit=1818%2C1228&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1818,1228\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;SP-3000&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1577787978&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"000018 (1)\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000018-1.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b29c335 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b29c335\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c6d0d46\" data-id=\"c6d0d46\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-92f82bc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"92f82bc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Overworking Mad March in lieu of ironing events into a year-long cultural calendar damages the community\u2019s support of the arts and, therefore, the city\u2019s ability to retain creative professionals.\u00a0 My creative friends constantly complain that most festival acts are international, rather than a showcase of Adelaide talent. These friends, artists and performers with talent far reaching beyond my skills, tell me of how they tried earnestly in Adelaide, showcasing their gifts and energy, but received little support in return. The city slept on them. They wanted to stay but had no choice but to leave.\u00a0On the flipside, some international Fringe performers have criticized the city\u2019s faux support of the arts, labelling local audiences as <a href=\"https:\/\/dailyreview.com.au\/adelaide-fringe-the-worst-ever-say-artists-blaming-entitled-audiences\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">entitled<\/a> and lazy with a poor attitude- and discourage other creative professionals from working in Adelaide.\u00a0The local arts industry is suffering.\u00a0<\/p><p>According to Rob Brookman, artistic director of the Adelaide Festival and founder of Womadelaide, milking the vibrancy of the festival season beyond March is too much for Adelaide to handle. He thinks an extended arts calendar will cause <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/culture\/2016\/mar\/04\/how-adelaide-could-become-australias-most-exciting-city-simply-by-doubling-down-on-culture\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">burn out.<\/a> Basically, Adelaide can support the arts for one month, then not show up again for another eleven.\u00a0<\/p><p>While Adelaide could host a month-long festival bender, I quickly looked beyond the smoke and mirrors toward the city\u2019s actual economic and social appetite for the arts that I required for a nourishing arts career. This festered into distrust in my city\u2019s ability to value me, especially at a time I hardly valued myself. I needed to go elsewhere to find my feet.\u00a0<\/p><p>I moved to Melbourne. As the cultural capital of Australia, I hardly need to gild the lily. Amongst my circles, I probably can count local Melbourners on one hand. We have all moved here from across Australia and the world for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.creativeboom.com\/features\/10-of-the-worlds-most-creative-cities-to-live-work-and-play\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">similar reasons<\/a>&#8211; a fruitful career in the arts or other competitive industries. Melbourne has one of the world\u2019s highest <a href=\"https:\/\/mediahub.visitvictoria.com\/inspiration\/melbourne-cultural-capital\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">densities<\/a> of art galleries- among these, one of the most visited art galleries in the world. Art infiltrates everyday life and, at times, I can no longer tell the difference between my work and social lives. It\u2019s reciprocal: the city is hungry for creativity, keeping us emerging arts workers hustling. It\u2019s wonderful to grow into my professional legs by nourishing this hunger- rather struggling for scraps in Adelaide.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c686ef2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c686ef2\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-23a1c6e\" data-id=\"23a1c6e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4f55255 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4f55255\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"1994\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/11\/im-leaving\/attachment\/000020\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000020.jpg?fit=1818%2C1228&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1818,1228\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;SP-3000&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1577787978&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"000020\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000020.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000020.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1994\" alt=\"I&#039;m Leaving Exhibition Essay I get it you moved to Melbourne Adelaide Fringe 2020 by Tahney Fosdike\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000020.jpg?w=1818&amp;ssl=1 1818w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000020.jpg?resize=300%2C203&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000020.jpg?resize=1024%2C692&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000020.jpg?resize=768%2C519&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000020.jpg?resize=1536%2C1038&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000020.jpg?resize=1140%2C770&amp;ssl=1 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" data-attachment-id=\"1994\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/11\/im-leaving\/attachment\/000020\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000020.jpg?fit=1818%2C1228&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1818,1228\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;SP-3000&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1577787978&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"000020\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000020.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8a6693c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8a6693c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b381b6e\" data-id=\"b381b6e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-273f143 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"273f143\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Creatives clustering isn\u2019t unique to the Adelaide to Melbourne route. An idea first <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citylab.com\/equity\/2012\/07\/psychology-behind-why-creative-people-cluster\/2243\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">popularised by Richard Florida<\/a>, a creative city is an economic and demographic equation. If a city attracts powerful service providers, especially big names in the finance, advertising and business sectors, more knowledge workers will congregate, inclusive of innovative <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reading.ac.uk\/PeBBu\/state_of_art\/urban_approaches\/creative_city\/creative_city.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">creative industries<\/a>. Knowledge workers, across these industries, in close <a href=\"https:\/\/www2.deloitte.com\/content\/dam\/Deloitte\/au\/Documents\/future-of-cities\/deloitte-future-of-cities-make-it-adelaide-280717.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">proximity<\/a> with one another, perpetuate urban density, stimulating access and sharing of ideas. With such clustering comes support and ambition to deliver ideas, elevating a vibrancy that is attractive to others looking for an inspired community.\u00a0<\/p><p>It\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citylab.com\/equity\/2012\/07\/psychology-behind-why-creative-people-cluster\/2243\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">psychological<\/a>, too. My Melbourne relocation was largely influenced by its liberal secularism; I was emotionally drained by Adelaide\u2019s prying religious eyes and stuffy worldviews.\u00a0<\/p><p>Florida argues creative clustering occurs because creative people are open to new experiences and averse to small-town mentalities. They relocate to metropolitan areas, where cultural stimulation, foreign-born residents and the gay index is high (many of my queer peers say moving to Melbourne made life easier for them).\u00a0<\/p><p>Although SA was the first state to decriminalise homosexuality, ban plastic bags and allow women to vote (a holy trifecta?), Victoria now takes the progressive front seat. At 14, during my first visit to Melbourne, my stifled quirky soul was enamoured as I witnessed people in bizarre outfits against a backdrop of vegan cafes and graffiti lanes.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-df1ca49 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"df1ca49\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-845b5af\" data-id=\"845b5af\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-99b8998 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"99b8998\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"1996\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/11\/im-leaving\/attachment\/000023\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000023.jpg?fit=1818%2C1228&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1818,1228\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;SP-3000&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1577787979&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"000023\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000023.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000023.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1996\" alt=\"I&#039;m Leaving Exhibition Essay I get it you moved to Melbourne Adelaide Fringe 2020 by Tahney Fosdike\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000023.jpg?w=1818&amp;ssl=1 1818w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000023.jpg?resize=300%2C203&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000023.jpg?resize=1024%2C692&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000023.jpg?resize=768%2C519&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000023.jpg?resize=1536%2C1038&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000023.jpg?resize=1140%2C770&amp;ssl=1 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" data-attachment-id=\"1996\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/11\/im-leaving\/attachment\/000023\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000023.jpg?fit=1818%2C1228&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1818,1228\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;SP-3000&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1577787979&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"000023\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000023.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0e5ea82 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0e5ea82\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8bf9d43\" data-id=\"8bf9d43\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8652340 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8652340\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Ten years later, I enjoy the physical and psychological benefits of Melbourne\u2019s creative cluster. My circles \u2013 all knowledge workers- are joint by shared ambitions rather than Adelaide\u2019s binder of the same highschool and, also, living within walking distance of our Brunswick rentals. Together, we attend films, exhibitions, gigs, theatre, followed by wine, chatting about what we\u2019ve seen, what we want from our world and how we want to be part of it. This environment makes me feel inspired, supported and rewarded on the regular.\u00a0<\/p><p>As the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britishcouncil.org\/voices-magazine\/should-you-move-city-your-creative-career\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">British Council describes<\/a>, \u2018When a diverse group of talented people intermingle in one place at the same time, creative magic can happen.\u2019 The risk is, of course, gentrification (that\u2019s another conversation) but the reward is a dynamic public collective providing critical mass of ideas, skills and opinions. Within this, artistic people have their vision encouraged by their immediate community.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1fb7b62 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1fb7b62\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-48ee57a\" data-id=\"48ee57a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e281c76 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e281c76\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"1998\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/11\/im-leaving\/attachment\/000027\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000027.jpg?fit=1818%2C1228&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1818,1228\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;SP-3000&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1577788080&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"000027\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000027.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000027.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1998\" alt=\"I&#039;m Leaving Exhibition Essay I get it you moved to Melbourne Adelaide Fringe 2020 by Tahney Fosdike\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000027.jpg?w=1818&amp;ssl=1 1818w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000027.jpg?resize=300%2C203&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000027.jpg?resize=1024%2C692&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000027.jpg?resize=768%2C519&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000027.jpg?resize=1536%2C1038&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000027.jpg?resize=1140%2C770&amp;ssl=1 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" data-attachment-id=\"1998\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/11\/im-leaving\/attachment\/000027\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000027.jpg?fit=1818%2C1228&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1818,1228\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;SP-3000&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1577788080&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"000027\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000027.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f0d658b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f0d658b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ca4fffb\" data-id=\"ca4fffb\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-98f4af4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"98f4af4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In contrast to such an organic arts ecosystem, a short festival stint can\u2019t support a well-rounded creative culture. Inhibitive and constrained attitudes repel the creative class and make a city\u2019s soul stagnant, as observed by Adelaide-based critic <a href=\"https:\/\/performing.artshub.com.au\/news-article\/opinions-and-analysis\/performing-arts\/ben-brooker\/from-lusty-blows-to-pulled-punches-on-arts-criticism-in-adelaide-257053\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ben Brooker<\/a> in Artshub, \u2018the city\u2019s festival mentality\u2026 conservative, mistrust of professional, and especially innovative, work; and the old boy networks [that] continue to circumscribe too much of Adelaide\u2019s arts and culture.\u2019<\/p><p>As it stands, it\u2019s convenient to take an 800km plunge to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.creativeboom.com\/features\/10-of-the-worlds-most-creative-cities-to-live-work-and-play\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">one of the world\u2019s most creative cities<\/a>. Yet, I often feel like the pettiest, weakest thing to do was leave rather than support my home city. It\u2019s positive that grassroots initiatives, like<a href=\"http:\/\/carclew.com.au\/Program\/creativeconsultants.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Carclew\u2019s employment program for young creative<\/a> people to train, collaborate and support each other as they establish themselves in the arts industry, are building a supportive network with a shared vision. But by yourself, you can\u2019t revolutionise a jaded community. As ExAdders commented on Rodger\u2019s blog, \u2018I reached the point where I realized I could work until I was 75 to try to \u2018lift up\u2019 Adelaide so it might be a culturally interesting place to live. But what about your own stuff? You have to have an allegiance to that.\u2019\u00a0<\/p><p>According to the Guardian, Adelaide simply has a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/culture\/2016\/mar\/04\/how-adelaide-could-become-australias-most-exciting-city-simply-by-doubling-down-on-culture\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">marketing problem<\/a> for 11 months of the year- it\u2019s just not showing you it\u2019s best hand! I\u2019ve been told many times about Adelaide\u2019s underground scene, but I refuse to dig. The arts aren\u2019t a subculture. But the Guardian is right, Adelaide could build upon what it\u2019s already got. Basic accessibility and infrastructure development, such as improved public transport and extended opening hours, would allow people to congregate and enjoy the arts.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-af4cf3f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"af4cf3f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1179144\" data-id=\"1179144\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0b8fa96 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0b8fa96\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"1999\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/11\/im-leaving\/attachment\/000029\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000029.jpg?fit=1818%2C1228&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1818,1228\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;SP-3000&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1577788080&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"000029\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000029.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000029.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1999\" alt=\"I&#039;m Leaving Exhibition Essay I get it you moved to Melbourne Adelaide Fringe 2020 by Tahney Fosdike\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000029.jpg?w=1818&amp;ssl=1 1818w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000029.jpg?resize=300%2C203&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000029.jpg?resize=1024%2C692&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000029.jpg?resize=768%2C519&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000029.jpg?resize=1536%2C1038&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000029.jpg?resize=1140%2C770&amp;ssl=1 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" data-attachment-id=\"1999\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/11\/im-leaving\/attachment\/000029\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000029.jpg?fit=1818%2C1228&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1818,1228\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;SP-3000&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1577788080&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"000029\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000029.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2921106 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2921106\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c96aefd\" data-id=\"c96aefd\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e6ec5c0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e6ec5c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Another suggestion floating around is to mirror a city like Portland, understanding a small city can flourish by \u2018carving out their own niche based mostly on supporting local creatives and celebrating the \u2018weirdness\u2019 of the city.\u2019 Leaning into its intimate geography and population-size, Adelaide could blend its intimacy with artistic vibrancy, while keeping the big apples of Sydney and Melbourne at an arm&#8217;s length.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><p>Yet, this change is hardly possible with current hard-line government approaches. In 2018, Adelaide\u2019s new Liberal State Government dismantled the state arts department. They relocated responsibility\u00a0of key arts organisations to the Department of Industry and Skills and the Department of Education, and <a href=\"https:\/\/visual.artshub.com.au\/news-article\/features\/visual-arts\/gina-fairley\/the-steven-marshall-plan-we-speak-with-sas-premier-257462\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cut $4.9 million<\/a>, making almost half of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.adelaidereview.com.au\/arts\/2019\/02\/07\/arts-plan-south-australia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Arts SA staff redundant<\/a>.<\/p><p>At local level, the Adelaide City Council <a href=\"https:\/\/www.adelaidenow.com.au\/news\/opinion\/katrina-stokes-all-our-best-and-brightest-are-fleeing-sa-for-greener-pastures-heres-how-we-can-can-stem-the-brain-drain\/news-story\/5cb9e2b703d9bfa4dbc1c6a77aee8ce2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">quickly discourages creative initiatives<\/a>, like relocating hugely popular Royal Croquet Club from the city centre to the outskirts so older generations in the CBD could sleep.\u00a0<\/p><p>Australia\u2019s government already devalues the arts. If this doesn\u2019t <a href=\"https:\/\/www.afr.com\/life-and-luxury\/why-australian-artists-find-it-so-hard-to-get-international-recognition-20160112-gm49r3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">push creative professionals internationally<\/a> to achieve recognition for their skills and passion, they are left with little choice but to stick to the most supported artistic communities, rather than simultaneously fight both state and federal disadvantage.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ecddf38 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ecddf38\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6305bad\" data-id=\"6305bad\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9f91162 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9f91162\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"2000\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/11\/im-leaving\/attachment\/000031\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000031.jpg?fit=1818%2C1228&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1818,1228\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;SP-3000&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1577788084&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"000031\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000031.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000031.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2000\" alt=\"I&#039;m Leaving Exhibition Essay I get it you moved to Melbourne Adelaide Fringe 2020 by Tahney Fosdike\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000031.jpg?w=1818&amp;ssl=1 1818w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000031.jpg?resize=300%2C203&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000031.jpg?resize=1024%2C692&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000031.jpg?resize=768%2C519&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000031.jpg?resize=1536%2C1038&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000031.jpg?resize=1140%2C770&amp;ssl=1 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" data-attachment-id=\"2000\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/11\/im-leaving\/attachment\/000031\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000031.jpg?fit=1818%2C1228&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1818,1228\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;SP-3000&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1577788084&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"000031\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000031.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-42b9df7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"42b9df7\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-71923f5\" data-id=\"71923f5\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-373f800 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"373f800\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>After dismantling the arts department, the Marshall Government tried to patch things up with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dpc.sa.gov.au\/responsibilities\/arts-and-culture\/arts-plan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Arts and Culture Plan 2019-2024<\/a>&#8211; the first major review of South Australian arts and culture in twenty years. Although one recommendation was to ensure that the sector thrives throughout the year, they also stuck their head in the sand with statements like <a href=\"http:\/\/\u2022\t\u201cThe Arts Review for South Australia.\u201d Department of Premier and Cabinet , July 2019.\" data-wplink-url-error=\"true\">\u2018Adelaide is an excellent place for artists\u2019<\/a> and that they would \u2018not make recommendations requiring significant additional government expenditure.\u2019\u00a0<\/p><p>In contrast, a report by multinational professional services network <a href=\"https:\/\/www2.deloitte.com\/content\/dam\/Deloitte\/au\/Documents\/future-of-cities\/deloitte-future-of-cities-make-it-adelaide-280717.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Deloitte<\/a> took a more transparent, albeit idealistic, stance. Some solutions are fluffy: stop belittling Adelaide and increase the population to 2 million by 2027. Yet, they note a necessity to improve industry ambition, such as the creative industry focusing on locally grown talent instead of international acts during festival season. From their perspective, such ambition can only be achieved by retaining young people:<\/p><p><i>For many years, too many young South Australians have left seeking better futures interstate and overseas. They leave with degrees from some of the world\u2019s top universities. They take with them their skills, their innovative ideas and their passion. They leave our festivals, our wine regions and our affordable living \u2013 and most importantly, their family and friends. And yet they still go. This needs to change. We need to make a compelling case to young South Australians that you can have a successful future in Adelaide. That we\u2019re a small city with big opportunities. That people who stay can make it big, and that people who leave are missing out.<\/i><\/p><p>You can\u2019t sidestep out of a rut; you need to climb out of it. You can\u2019t convince people about their bright future in Adelaide without recognising barriers that make it hard to stay.\u00a0 People aren\u2019t leaving because Melbourne is shinier than Adelaide &#8211; it\u2019s because Adelaide actively undercuts them.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9a6a4fb elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9a6a4fb\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7db8f5a\" data-id=\"7db8f5a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-16ea13e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"16ea13e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"2002\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/11\/im-leaving\/attachment\/000040\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000040.jpg?fit=1818%2C1228&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1818,1228\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;SP-3000&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1577788088&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"000040\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000040.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000040.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2002\" alt=\"I&#039;m Leaving Exhibition Essay I get it you moved to Melbourne Adelaide Fringe 2020 by Tahney Fosdike\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000040.jpg?w=1818&amp;ssl=1 1818w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000040.jpg?resize=300%2C203&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000040.jpg?resize=1024%2C692&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000040.jpg?resize=768%2C519&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000040.jpg?resize=1536%2C1038&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000040.jpg?resize=1140%2C770&amp;ssl=1 1140w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000040.jpg?resize=600%2C405&amp;ssl=1 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" data-attachment-id=\"2002\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/11\/im-leaving\/attachment\/000040\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000040.jpg?fit=1818%2C1228&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1818,1228\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;SP-3000&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1577788088&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"000040\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000040.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-05c8dcd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"05c8dcd\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fcf3a3d\" data-id=\"fcf3a3d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-30f4759 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"30f4759\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Keeping<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the young and creative will be a lot easier if they felt like they were valued by their immediate environment and supported by a critical mass; a motivated, vibrant community willing to support an upward, dynamic career.\u00a0\u00a0When Mad March is over, it\u2019s the responsibility of all to show up and not leave the arts, and its people, behind. Attitude change, alongside adaptations to current infrastructure and policy, is required to foster community patronage of the arts. I don\u2019t know whether this begins with the dismantling of the age-old complaint about Australia\u2019s cultural cringe or tall poppy syndrome (I digress, I\u2019m only going to be abstract and idealistic with my solutions). It\u2019s not about being the best, merely better, to give reason to devote ideas and talent to home, rather than booking flights to Melbourne out of desperation and isolation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s a reciprocal betrayal or commitment. Perhaps, through a cumulation of change, appetite will be whet for the arts year round, the arts will stop being pushed into the corner, edge toward self-confidence and elevate Adelaide as a creative place. As confidence grows and art is incorporated into the fabric of daily life, the give-and-take of consuming arts and supporting artistic labour itself will be established. With solidarity comes sustainability and, at some point, creative people will cluster with explosive ideas rather than leave, and the city can thrive in partnership with its people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As it stands, it\u2019s a catch-22. In his blog, Rodgers summarised Adelaide\u2019s dichotomy well, \u2018It\u2019s a Sisyphean task to create sustainable cultural infrastructure for a demographic that\u2019s predisposed to not staying to enjoy it. And because there are small to no audiences, older, family-focussed types stuck in government bureaucracy aren\u2019t going to help enable that culture, if they\u2019re aware of it at all.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-48ba7fd elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"48ba7fd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"2001\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/11\/im-leaving\/attachment\/000039\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000039.jpg?fit=1818%2C1228&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1818,1228\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;SP-3000&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1577788088&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"000039\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000039.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000039.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2001\" alt=\"I&#039;m Leaving Exhibition Essay I get it you moved to Melbourne Adelaide Fringe 2020 by Tahney Fosdike\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000039.jpg?w=1818&amp;ssl=1 1818w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000039.jpg?resize=300%2C203&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000039.jpg?resize=1024%2C692&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000039.jpg?resize=768%2C519&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000039.jpg?resize=1536%2C1038&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000039.jpg?resize=1140%2C770&amp;ssl=1 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" data-attachment-id=\"2001\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/11\/im-leaving\/attachment\/000039\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000039.jpg?fit=1818%2C1228&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1818,1228\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;SP-3000&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1577788088&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"000039\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000039.jpg?fit=900%2C608&amp;ssl=1\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6e503d4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6e503d4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0d02fca\" data-id=\"0d02fca\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a9cb2b9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a9cb2b9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> few years ago, I looked to anchor my restless mind in a meaningful future. I craved a public that celebrated and supported creativity, indicating the possibility of a sustainable career. Without that, I couldn\u2019t justify staying.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adelaide is no longer my home. It\u2019s not my right to claim quick fixes or diagnose its needs. I can only outline the roots of my dissatisfaction. Living there, I feared missing out and wasting my mind. I couldn\u2019t wait for the world to come to me. However, I wish I had more choice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3e3ef3b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3e3ef3b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-53da0e4\" data-id=\"53da0e4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1a251d2 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"1a251d2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4a5e204 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4a5e204\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This text accompanies <a href=\"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/2019\/09\/23\/melbourne\/\"><em><strong>I get it, you moved to Melbourne<\/strong><\/em><\/a>, a pop-up social museum scrutinising Adelaide\u2019s brain drain.\u00a0<\/p><p>Sat 29 February &#8211; Sun 1 March\u00a0<\/p><p>10am-5pm @ the Chapel, Migration Museum<\/p><p>Wed\u00a04 &#8211; Sat 7 March<\/p><p>12:30pm-7:30pm @ the Tunnels, the Lion Hotel<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/events\/752189278548873\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u00a0<\/a><\/p><p>Curated by Tahney Fosdike\u00a0<\/p><p>Featuring John Frith, Jenny Allnut, Grace Harper, Julia Derwas, Chelsea Birrane, Alexandra Dobson, Abbey Witcombe, Will Preece, Amalia Krueger and Angus Hamra.\u00a0<\/p><p>With special thanks to Adelaide Fringe, Jeffrey Frith, University of Melbourne Archives, State Library of South Australia, National Library of Australia, Mount Gambier Library, History Trust of South Australia and the Lion Hotel.\u00a0<\/p><p>In partnership with Adelaide Fringe Festival 2020\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I&#8217;m Leaving was the exhibition essay for&nbsp;I get it, you moved to Melbourne&nbsp;Adelaide Fringe 2020. Part op-ed, part memoir, it&#8230; <\/p>\n<div class=\"readmore\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/11\/im-leaving\/\" class=\"lnk\">Read more<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2002,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[359],"tags":[233,374,373,375],"class_list":["post-1980","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-writing","tag-adelaide","tag-creative-community","tag-cultural-policy","tag-marshall-government"],"acf":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/000040.jpg?fit=1818%2C1228&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9Pso7-vW","jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1980","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1980"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1980\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5359,"href":"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1980\/revisions\/5359"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2002"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1980"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1980"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1980"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}