Chashama Inc

For over two decades, Chashama has played a central role in sustaining New York’s vibrant artistic community and increasing access to the arts for all. Chashama supports artists by partnering with property owners to transform unused real estate into space to create and present, and provides free art classes for NYC communities.

Chashama is exploring new ways to support and promote artists. We are auctioning artworks from our private collection to sustain artists with their studio rent. We need them more than ever to keep the light on.

Chashama was founded in 1995 by Anita Durst to celebrate the legacy of theatre visionary Reza Abdoh. Chashama’s initial focus was on the production and presentation of new theatre. Recognizing that a lack of affordable space was the biggest threat to sustaining a diverse cultural environment in New York City, we began to work toward securing studio and presentation space in Midtown Manhattan for struggling artists by partnering with Property Owners that provide unused space to Chashama. In the first decade, we secured seven locations on 42nd street between 6th and Broadway, presenting over 700 shows.

Since then, we’ve moved from midtown Manhattan to the 5 boroughs and beyond, giving artists work and presentation spaces, as well as providing free art workshops in under served communities. Currently, we present 150 events a year, have workspace for 120 artists, and have developed 80 workshops in under served communities.