![Chashama Is Giving Thousands of New Artists a Chance [Q&A]](/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgoodnet.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F05%2F05103638%2F28975-670x396.jpg&w=1920&q=70)
Chashama Is Giving Thousands of New Artists a Chance [Q&A]
Chashama is an New York City-based non-profit organization that supports artists and creative communities. Chashama realizes its mission by partnering with property owners to transform unused real estate into space to create and present. Over the past 23 years, the organization has provided affordable exhibition and workshop space for more than 15,000 New York artists.
For this week’s 10 Good Questions, Goodnet spoke to Chashama founder Anita Durst to get an inside look into the mind of one of the driving forces in the NYC art community.
1. WHAT IS YOUR ORGANIZATION’S MISSION?
Chashama supports artists by giving them space to create and present, while fostering community development through the arts.
2. WHAT MAKES YOU GUYS DIFFERENT FROM THE REST?
What separates us from other similar organizations are the deep connections we have to both the world of New York real estate and the city’s artistic community.
3. WHAT THREE WORDS DESCRIBE YOUR ORGANIZATION?
Supportive, unusual, go-for-it.
4. WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
What inspires me most is the cultivation of the artistic development of those we provide with a studio space.
5. WHO’S YOUR FAVORITE GOOD DOER FIGURE?
Gandhi.
6. WHAT IS THE BEST PART ABOUT YOUR JOB?
The best part of my job is watching the reaction of an audience, and the way in which the art transforms them. This goes hand in hand with seeing the artist’s dreams come true.
7. HOW DO YOU MEASURE SUCCESS WITHIN YOUR ORGANIZATION?
Our organization measures it success by the positive outcomes of our endeavours and the many smiles that come our way.
8. FACEBOOK OR TWITTER?
Twitter, because it provides a platform for everyone to have their own voice heard. We’re still also on Facebook and Instagram though.
9. WHAT DO YOU WANT GOODNET USERS TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION?
Chashama provides work space for over 130 artists, give free presentation space to over 160 artists, and provides 50 free art workshops to low income communities. This work is supported by our Chashama gala, the most outrageous party of the year.
10. HOW CAN PEOPLE GET INVOLVED?
People can get involved through volunteering. We are currently looking for gallery sitters, construction workers, and CRM/Database management specialists. Those interested in volunteering can reach out to our Volunteering Manager, at nate@chashama.org
