Chashama
Encyclopedia
Chashama is a non-profit organization that supports thriving cultural communities by transforming temporarily vacant properties into spaces where art can flourish. Chashama invests in neighborhoods, fosters local artists, and sustains a vast range of creativity and culture.
Chashama was founded by Anita Durst in 1995 with the central purpose of keeping artists in New York by giving them the space to create. The lack of affordable space was the greatest threat to sustaining a diverse, dynamic, and provocative cultural environment in New York City. Durst's strategy to address this problem was to find a way to connect artists with vacant real estate.
Her vision to convert empty storefronts and offices into vibrant, arts-focused hubs of activity resulted in
relationships with some of New York City’s largest developers and property owners. These partnerships are testimonies to the insight of Durst’s vision. chashama’s space recycling program adds value to properties, keeping spaces and neighborhoods active and vibrant, and benefitting owners, neighborhoods and artists.
chashama has converted more than 40 locations, giving 7,500 artists access to subsidized space, which supported approximately 10,000 public presentations for over 500,000 viewers.
They include:
for "to have vision". There are many more theories of spelling, pronunciation, and meaning.
Chashama was founded by Anita Durst in 1995 with the central purpose of keeping artists in New York by giving them the space to create. The lack of affordable space was the greatest threat to sustaining a diverse, dynamic, and provocative cultural environment in New York City. Durst's strategy to address this problem was to find a way to connect artists with vacant real estate.
Her vision to convert empty storefronts and offices into vibrant, arts-focused hubs of activity resulted in
relationships with some of New York City’s largest developers and property owners. These partnerships are testimonies to the insight of Durst’s vision. chashama’s space recycling program adds value to properties, keeping spaces and neighborhoods active and vibrant, and benefitting owners, neighborhoods and artists.
chashama has converted more than 40 locations, giving 7,500 artists access to subsidized space, which supported approximately 10,000 public presentations for over 500,000 viewers.
Programs
chashama runs a variety of programs to serve the emerging artist community in NYC.They include:
- Using temporarily vacant storefront windows for free, public installations and performances
- Providing subsidized or free rehearsal and performance space
- Providing subsidized artist's studios
- Presenting a variety of visual artist exhibitions throughout the year
Meanings of chashama
The meaning of "chashama" depends on whom you ask. According to Ms. Durst, chashama is PersianPersian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
for "to have vision". There are many more theories of spelling, pronunciation, and meaning.