Chashama helps create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive world by partnering with property owners to transform unused real estate. These spaces are used for artists, small businesses, and for free community-centric art classes.
- Awards 11 million worth of real estate to artists
- Subsidizes 300 artist work spaces
- Provides over 215 free art classes
- Gives 200 artists free space to present
- Supports over 75 businesses with free space
The New York art world would not be what it is without the support that artists have received from Chashama. So many artists have benefited from Chashama. There are so many artists that I admire who have had a connection to Chashama somehow, either because they have shows at Space to Present or because they have a studio through Chashama.”
Nancy Elsamanoudi, Chashama Studio Artist
History
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.
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.
FAQ
Supporters
We thank our supporters, partners & members who make artists’ dreams come true:
Current Funders
M&T Bank
National Endowment for the Arts
New York City Council Member Ben Kallos
New York City Council Member Carlos Menchaca
New York City Council Member Keith Powers
New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson
New York City Department of Cultural Affairs
New York City Department of Transportation
New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature
Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation
The David Rockefeller Fund
The Manhattan Borough President's Office
The Marie and John Zimmermann Fund
The Rockefeller Brothers Fund
United Breast Cancer Foundation
Past Funders
Alliance of Resident Theaters
American Chai Trust
Bloomberg Philanthropies
Carnegie Corporation
Con Edison
Dramatists Guild Foundation
Foundation for Contemporary Arts
Lambent/Tides Foundation
Lily Auchincloss Foundation
Mertz-Gilmore Foundation
National Endowment for the Arts
New York City Council Member Christine Quinn
New York City Council Member Daniel Garodnick
New York City Council Member Jessica Lappin
New York City Council Member Leroy Comrie
New York City Council Member Robert Jackson
New York City Council Member Sarah Gonzalez
Peg Santvoord Foundation
Robert Sterling Clark Foundation
Steinberg Charitable Trust
The DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the Kennedy Center
Think!Chinatown
Partners
Compass
Fordham Bedford
IVY
NYC EVENT PRO
NYCEDC
Orangenius
Quadra
Property Donors
Adam America Real Estate
Atlantic Development Corp.
Brause Realty, Inc.
Brookfield Properties
Buchbinder & Warren Realty Group
C&K Properties
Cammeby's, LLC
DDG
Dunn Development Corp
Durst Organization
Ekstein Development LLC
Extell Development Company
Flagship Properties, LLC
Fordham Bedford Housing Corp
Forest City Ratner
George Comfort & Sons, Inc.
GFP Real Estate
Greater Jamaica Development Corp.
Harbor Group
HEC Real Estate
J & M Realty Services Corp.
Jack Resnick & Sons
JRT Realty
L+M Development Partners Inc.
Lower East Side Housing Coalition
New York City Economic Development Corp.
Newmark and Co. Real Estate
NYC Department of Transportation
Oliver's Realty Group
Port Authority of New York
RAL Companies
Rockrose Development Corp.
RXR Realty
Salt Equities
St. Tropez Condominium
Stonehenge Management, LLC
TF Cornerstone
The Janus Property Company
The Rizzuto Group
Vanke US
West Side Federation for Senior & Supportive Housing
M&T Bank
National Endowment for the Arts
New York City Council Member Ben Kallos
New York City Council Member Carlos Menchaca
New York City Council Member Keith Powers
New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson
New York City Department of Cultural Affairs
New York City Department of Transportation
New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature
Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation
The David Rockefeller Fund
The Manhattan Borough President's Office
The Marie and John Zimmermann Fund
The Rockefeller Brothers Fund
United Breast Cancer Foundation
Past Funders
Alliance of Resident Theaters
American Chai Trust
Bloomberg Philanthropies
Carnegie Corporation
Con Edison
Dramatists Guild Foundation
Foundation for Contemporary Arts
Lambent/Tides Foundation
Lily Auchincloss Foundation
Mertz-Gilmore Foundation
National Endowment for the Arts
New York City Council Member Christine Quinn
New York City Council Member Daniel Garodnick
New York City Council Member Jessica Lappin
New York City Council Member Leroy Comrie
New York City Council Member Robert Jackson
New York City Council Member Sarah Gonzalez
Peg Santvoord Foundation
Robert Sterling Clark Foundation
Steinberg Charitable Trust
The DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the Kennedy Center
Think!Chinatown
Partners
Compass
Fordham Bedford
IVY
NYC EVENT PRO
NYCEDC
Orangenius
Quadra
Property Donors
Adam America Real Estate
Atlantic Development Corp.
Brause Realty, Inc.
Brookfield Properties
Buchbinder & Warren Realty Group
C&K Properties
Cammeby's, LLC
DDG
Dunn Development Corp
Durst Organization
Ekstein Development LLC
Extell Development Company
Flagship Properties, LLC
Fordham Bedford Housing Corp
Forest City Ratner
George Comfort & Sons, Inc.
GFP Real Estate
Greater Jamaica Development Corp.
Harbor Group
HEC Real Estate
J & M Realty Services Corp.
Jack Resnick & Sons
JRT Realty
L+M Development Partners Inc.
Lower East Side Housing Coalition
New York City Economic Development Corp.
Newmark and Co. Real Estate
NYC Department of Transportation
Oliver's Realty Group
Port Authority of New York
RAL Companies
Rockrose Development Corp.
RXR Realty
Salt Equities
St. Tropez Condominium
Stonehenge Management, LLC
TF Cornerstone
The Janus Property Company
The Rizzuto Group
Vanke US
West Side Federation for Senior & Supportive Housing
Sponsors
Leaders
Tony Bechara
Chicago Title Insurance Company
Darcy Stacom, CBRE
MFTA
Visionaries
Fidelity National Title
Mutual of America
Innovators
The Durst Organization
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver, & Jacobson LLP
M&T Bank
One World Observatory/LEGENDS
Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP
U.S. Immigration Fund
Weiler Arnow Investment Co.
Creators
AECOM Tishman
Broadway HD
Chatham Financial
CitiBank
City National Bank
The Donaldson Organization
ENV
Marla & Daniel Gabay
GFP Real Estate
Lotus Equity Group
RCG Longview
Rockrose Development LLC
STUDIOS Architecture
Turner Construction
Two Trees Management Co LLC
John Morning
The Tobers
W.B. Mason
In-Kind Support
Ben Burman
Bindlestiff Family Cirkus
Bohemian Restaurant
Bombay Sapphire
Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy
Café Un Deux Trois
Carole A. Feuerman Foundation
Coney Island USA
The Durst Organization
Eclectique Industries
Rachel Fleit
Gavin Steinberg
Gerard Segovia
Harlem Brewing Company
HERE
Jenny Lynch
LEGENDS
Magic Hat Brewing Company
MEBL|Transforming Furniture
MFTA
My/Mo Mochi
New York Botanical Garden
Ousia Restaurant
Poletic Justice
Primary Stages
Quadra
Raventos i Blanc
Rosalyn Coleman
Sorelle Firenze
Spireworks
Vanderbilt Tennis Club
You Are So Lucky, Inc.
Zirkova
Members
Individual
Cynthia Rich
Small Business
Fidel Vasquez
Artist
Yael Ginosar
Helen Iranyi
Gideon Lazarus
Student
Judi Polanco
Leaders
Tony Bechara
Chicago Title Insurance Company
Darcy Stacom, CBRE
MFTA
Visionaries
Fidelity National Title
Mutual of America
Innovators
The Durst Organization
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver, & Jacobson LLP
M&T Bank
One World Observatory/LEGENDS
Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP
U.S. Immigration Fund
Weiler Arnow Investment Co.
Creators
AECOM Tishman
Broadway HD
Chatham Financial
CitiBank
City National Bank
The Donaldson Organization
ENV
Marla & Daniel Gabay
GFP Real Estate
Lotus Equity Group
RCG Longview
Rockrose Development LLC
STUDIOS Architecture
Turner Construction
Two Trees Management Co LLC
John Morning
The Tobers
W.B. Mason
In-Kind Support
Ben Burman
Bindlestiff Family Cirkus
Bohemian Restaurant
Bombay Sapphire
Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy
Café Un Deux Trois
Carole A. Feuerman Foundation
Coney Island USA
The Durst Organization
Eclectique Industries
Rachel Fleit
Gavin Steinberg
Gerard Segovia
Harlem Brewing Company
HERE
Jenny Lynch
LEGENDS
Magic Hat Brewing Company
MEBL|Transforming Furniture
MFTA
My/Mo Mochi
New York Botanical Garden
Ousia Restaurant
Poletic Justice
Primary Stages
Quadra
Raventos i Blanc
Rosalyn Coleman
Sorelle Firenze
Spireworks
Vanderbilt Tennis Club
You Are So Lucky, Inc.
Zirkova
Members
Individual
Cynthia Rich
Small Business
Fidel Vasquez
Artist
Yael Ginosar
Helen Iranyi
Gideon Lazarus
Student
Judi Polanco