The Metro: Detroit is an art city, but can artists really make it here?
Artists Sydney James and Halima Cassells discuss the problems they face trying to make a living in Detroit, and what support they’ve found.
Sydney James and Halima Cassells visit WDET on Jan. 29. 2026.
Detroit and art go hand-in-hand. The arts are held in the same regard as the automotive industry as one of the city’s great exports. But unlike the auto and manufacturing industries, the work can be a lot less stable, the recognition can be less visible, and the pay can be inconsistent.
So what does an artist in metro Detroit striving to make a life here do? What supports exist and is it enough? Artists Sydney James and Halima Cassells join the program to discuss.
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