FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New York, N.Y. November, 2020
What: Chashama is Enlivening NYC
Contact: Juliette Buffard Scalabre juliette@chashama.org 929-536-4726
Chashama's Enliven NYC is transforming numerous donated unused properties from Madison Avenue to Brownsville, NYC, into space for artists, nonprofits, and small businesses. The pandemic has shuttered scores of beloved neighborhood businesses, creating hundreds of empty storefronts throughout New York City. Nonprofit veteran Chashama is the bridge to enliven the streets once more.
"I dream of Chashama being a great catalyst for recovery in the wake of the pandemic," says founder Anita Durst. "With all these empty storefronts, we are a connection between the property owner, the artist, and the small businesses. We could help reignite the economy of New York and bring it back more through the mom and pop shops."
Chashama currently has 40 locations that they give to artists and will be taking on another 10 this month. These first 10 spaces are just the beginning and Chashama hopes to have 100 locations by the end of next year. Some of their current property owner partners include DUNN Development, REBNY, TF Cornerstone, and the Economic Development Corporation Department of Transportation.
In just the past two months, Chashama has received a deluge of inquiries from organizations in need of space. The company has accommodated most requests from artists, nonprofits, small-businesses including The Arts Student League, Bated Breath Theatre Company, New Camerata Opera, American Indian House, The Affordable Art Fair, and many more.
Durst says several organizations have strengthened their financial support of Chashama during the pandemic, including New York Community Trust, CBRE, Chicago Title Insurance, the Durst Organization, Fidelity Title Insurance, Taconic Partners, Rosenberg & Estis, PC, One World Observatory, LEGENDS, and Turner Construction Company.
For 25 years, Chashama has successfully transformed 50 million dollars worth of property into space for artists. Chashama has played a central role in sustaining New York's artistic community by giving work, exhibition, and performance space to over 25,000 artists, presenting over 4,000 public art events, and offering 3000 free art classes to underserved neighborhoods.