New York City arts organizations help arts and businesses set up stores in vacant storefronts

Local organizations are helping more artists and businesses find space to work in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Twenty-five years ago, Anita Durst founded Chashama, an organization that helps local artists and small businesses by providing a place for creativity. She came up with the idea of ​​starting Chasama after joining a theater group led by Reza Abdu.

“”[Abdoh’s] The work was a huge success all over Europe. When people see his work, it will change their lives, “Dust said. “He used to talk about the power of creativity. [Abdoh] He died of AIDS. I wanted to share that sense of creativity and how it can change you. I did it in his memory. “

Dust says Chashamah originally started with the goal of focusing on the production and presentation of new theaters. Since its inception, Chashama has evolved to help artists and businesses find their space until they can rent out their space full-time in a vacant lot in New York City.

Chashama’s latest venture, Enliven NYC, has taken this mission seriously, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many storefronts have been closed.

“Now, when I look at the city, all these people are gone and I see a closed space, but I still have a lot of passion and many people here want to help it,” says Durst. I did. “It’s very likely that we’ll help, so Enliven NYC will help artists and companies in their space until they’re rented out. We’re still awake and alive, and New York is overcoming this pandemic. . “

Chashama currently operates in 40 locations in New York City, New York, and Matawan, NJ. Dust hopes Chasama will win 20 new spaces by January 2021 through Enliven NYC.

Dust says these spaces not only help artists, but also boost the urban community.

“First of all, it helps artists a lot. Instead of being trapped in an apartment, they have a place to create, so they do things and work with other artists,” said Dust. “Then, for the people on the street, the occupied storefront lifts passers-by. It gives them a sense of hope. If there is a negative space, it produces a certain amount of energy. A positive space really changes the situation for the lessor and the people nearby. “

According to Dust, the reaction to Enliven NYC is pretty positive and we hope to be able to run hundreds of spaces for artists in the next two years.

During the holiday season, Chashamah hosts a holiday market featuring handmade works by local artists. The organization is also working with Shin Gallery to place museum-quality works in the Chassama space so that New Yorkers can safely enjoy them during a pandemic.

For more information, please visit: chashama.org..