Is New York still the culture capital of the world? Was it ever? Lots of New Yorkers would certainly claim that it was, is, and will always be, but then, most New Yorkers also believe that the world ends just west of New Jersey. A realistic look at history reveals that “there was only a relatively brief time when New York City, no longer overshadowed by Europe, was universally considered the art capital of the world.” Worse, a good deal of serious art and culture is being replaced (not only in New York, but across America) by attention-grabbing “events” intended simply to draw huge crowds. “It is clear that the arts and culture have risen in importance for cities all over the world, which increases the competition for talent.”