The Ideal Phoenix Newbie?

I was reading a blog where complaints about Phoenix's lack of culture and cultural events and venues were discussed, and the author suggested that one of the opportunities out of a perceived lack of such amenities is the ability to make our own "infrastructure" of cultural events, venues, and institutions.
 
Let me add this other perspective to the opportunity Phoenix possesses: a very low cost of living. It is probably the lowest cost of living major metropolitan area in the country if you consider housing, food, and climate related needs. Of course that can happen because wages and compensation are also quite low compared with much of the country.
 
We know that most of Phoenix's growth will come from in-migration, mostly from other parts of the country (and some from south of the border, but that's not the issue), predominately from areas that have higher costs of living and higher wages. Moving to a lower cost of living area is a bonus especially if one doesn't need to rely on the income limitations of a low compensation area, but rather has the funds to either work part time to supplement their savings/investments, live entirely off of their savings/investments, and/or pare down their lifestyle so that either could work here where it wouldn't work where they are from.
 
Here's the twist. When someone doesn't need to "make a living", they have a lot more time and potentially energy and resources that they can contribute to our cultural base. Consider how many late "boomers" and early "X-ers" (40's and 50's year olds) are entering the child-less stage of their life, are burned out or feel incomplete from their otherwise successful careers, and/or have either dabbled or dreamed of pursuing an art or cultural type activity.
 
And before someone asks about their supposed wealth, this economy has not kicked everyone off track from post-employment living and in some cases given people the resources to move their "retirement" early--it has happened as it happens in every down economic cycle through history.
 
Back to the original idea: if we publicly and persistently invite these newbies who have cultural gifts to share, to be a part of our "entrepreneurial" arts and cultural community, we might kick this habit of having people move here but leave their money and cultural gifts back where they are from. We can and should encourage these newbies to partner with each other to invest in small commercial buildings where they can affordably share space to work and exhibit their skills. Imagine if a group of these neo-retirees purchased the small, older, but architecturally significant buildings along Van Buren between the interstates, set up shop, starting hosting regular events that their peers and neighborhood residents would be invited to participate and contribute to. Between 11th St and 18th St possesses many such structures and paved spaces that are accessible by light rail or easily off the highways.
 
We all know what can happen when people who aren't in it to make a buck, but rather to make a life and contribute to the cultural amenities of a community can create: Roosevelt Row & Grand Ave come to mind (I believe there are others...please share them in a comment). By the way, these outsiders with their breadth of experiences and cultural amenities from their home towns should be encouraged to share the ones they loved, and if desired, make a Phoenix/Arizona version of it. We need to let them know their past experiences are appreciated and welcomed as we create our own cultural amenities here.
 
I for one look forward to sharing some of the unique events I have experienced in Phoenix to wherever I head next. We should be proud of what we have already accomplished in terms of what we have created that is unique to Phoenix or Arizona. We may not have the best or most venues for music, musicals/theater performances, or top tier museums (yes we do have a few that could qualify), but we do have some endearing events and networks that if it weren't for our outsized population and land mass, would probably put us up with the big hitters.
 
So lets encourage our newcomers to pursue the dreams they had in their previous life; lets show them that they are valued in our eclectic and diverse arts and cultural community. And support them in such a way that they don't ever question where else they might go.