question of the day: How much do you take advantage of the cultural opportunities where you live?

Standing at the bus stop the other day, I bumped into an acquaintance who had been working outside London for the last few years. When I asked how he liked living in Bristol, and then Liverpool, he reeled off a list of positives before saying, “but culturally, there were only ever one or two shows or exhibitions on at any one time – I missed the variety of culture in London.” What, I asked, is the best thing he had seen in the six months since he’d been back? “Er, to be honest, I haven’t been to anything but it’s just knowing it’s all there if you know what I mean,” came the reply.

I’ve heard New Yorkers say much the same thing about their city.

How much do you take advantage of the cultural opportunities where you live?

Even in a small town, there’s always something cultural happening: a show by a local artist or photographer, or a play put on by an amateur theater troupe. In a big city, there’s an overwhelming number of cultural events and performing arts to take in. Do you take any of it in, wherever you are?

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