chashama, a group founded by Anita Durst to support artists through creative space redistribution, will launch two new programs during a celebration gala next week.
New York City’s artistic avant-garde will meet and mingle with real estate and corporate executives, and philanthropic leaders during the gala at Anita’s Way to celebrate chashama’s success in providing performance, exhibit, and work space to thousands of performing and visual artists.
chashama’s new program, Accessing Real Estate for the Arts (AREA), will also be launched. The program will transform underutilized properties in all five boroughs into artist communities.
And, beginning in July, chashama is partnering with the Mid Bronx Senior Citizens Council (MBSCC) to offer affordable housing for artists in the Bronx.
The Bronx Housing Project offers artists renovated apartments at 60% of market value in exchange for taking part in community projects aimed at beautifying and revitalizing the neighborhood.
chashama’s Anna Chan said, “This program is essential because it has the potential to not just change artists’ lives by providing them with affordable housing, but it will help New York retain its young artistic community while providing change in one of New York’s poorest neighborhoods.
“We envision this program as collaborative, where the involved artists work with other community groups and nonprofits to teach art and performance to residents, create community murals, and show their art in ground floor galleries on streets with vacant storefronts.ˮ
For 17 years, chashama has transformed vacant properties into studio, performance, and exhibition spaces, supporting 10,000 artists of all genres, giving them “space to create.”
Currently, chashama manages almost $2 million worth of donated space — 130 artist studios, three galleries and three performance venues.
The Gala celebration on June 10 begins at Anita’s Way at 6:00 pm. The through-block space between the Condé Nast building and the Bank of America tower will be transformed into a performance venue with food by Charlie Palmer’s Aureole and a late-night dance party. For details, go to www.chashama.org.
