Anita Durst is the founder and visionary behind ChaShaMa, the 25-year-old non-profit that supports artists and small business owners by donating space to create, present, perform and work.
I hate to compare women to one another, but the parallels between Anita Durst and Peggy Guggenheim are too big to ignore. Bohemian, intelligent, patrons of the arts, and artists in their own right; both Durst and Guggenheim were born into affluent Jewish families with robust businesses and social connections. Both spent much of their young adulthood in Europe, living and working with avant-garde artists. Guggenheim used her resources to buy and collect young artists’ work, eventually connecting them with museums and patrons. Durst joined the Avant-Garde theater company Dar A Laz after high school and performed with the group throughout Europe until the death of its director, Reza Aboh. Durst returned to New York City, and in 1995, she founded ChaShama.
Guggenheim changed the lives of hundreds of artists throughout her life. Durst has managed to scale her ChaShaMa organization to award over $11 million worth of real estate to artists annually. Through ChaShaMa, Durst subsidizes 300 artist workspaces, 200+ artists receive free space to present, 250+ free art classes are happening, and 75 small businesses receive free space each year. So, is Anita Durst, the modern-day Peggy Guggenheim? I think so.
I asked Anita about her inspiration for ChaShaMa, and how to get involved.
You started your career as a performer. Tell us about your performance training/inspiration and early work.
Reza Aboh taught me the strength of having a clear vision and would push our limits past our comfort zone and ask us to dig deeper. The work was raw, loud, fast, somewhat naked, in your face, angry, and was toured all over Europe. Reza taught me not to be afraid and always look the audience directly in the eye and break the fourth wall.
Why was it important to you to continue his legacy when your mentor died?
It was important for other people to feel the power of creativity that Reza had taught me.
ChaShaMa started with a few dozen spaces in New York City. Explain how and why it was necessary to expand beyond NYC.
There is a need all over the country for unused space to be utilized, and I had a lot of demand and constant calls from many requesting guidance from all over the world.
We know the organization also does fundraisers to help with administrative costs. Tell us about what to expect at a ChaShaMa Gala.
You will enter a swirling sensation and experience a carnival-like delight with over 200 magical artists. Expect to feel alive and inspired.
What else do you want our readers to know about ChaShaMa?
ChaShaMa also offers free art classes in Queens and the Bronx in transitional housing, schools, and senior and community centers.
For more information on the June 8th ChaShaMa Gala and how to obtain tickets, visit chashama.org