Chashama
Donna Rae K. is a highly experienced Creative Director and Gallery Director, Artist, and Curator. With a background in art administration and a BFA in Art, Donna Rae has worked in various roles such as Executive Director, Head Curator, Deputy Director, and Independent Curator managing exhibitions and programs in the New York Metropolitan area. Donna Rae K. has also been involved in coordinating art tours, collaborating with local organizations, and securing grant funding for arts initiatives.
Chashama
We support artists by partnering with property owners to transform unused real estate into space for artists to create, present, and connect with the mission to increase equity and bolster diversity in the arts. For over two decades, Chashama has played a central role in sustaining New York’s vibrant artistic community by giving space to 20,000 artists, hosting 4,000 public art events, providing 1,500 free art classes in underserved communities, and reaching an audience of nearly 1 million. We envision a cultural ecosystem that’s representative and supportive of diverse communities. We want New York to be a place where all artists— aspiring, emerging, and established— feel supported, valued, and encouraged. It was founded in 1995 by Artistic Director Anita Durst to remedy what she observed to be the greatest threat artists faced: the lack of affordable space. Since its inception Chashama has worked collaboratively with artists, property owners, and the New York community to activate space and support under-resourced communities, establishing itself as a well-regarded cultural force on a mission to increase access to the arts for all.