Chashama supports artists by partnering with property owners to transform unused real estate into space to create and present and provides free art classes to under-resourced communities. The organization was founded in 1995 by Artistic Director Anita Durst to remedy what she observed to be the greatest threat New York City artists faced: the lack of space. Since then, Chashama has played a central role in sustaining New York’s artistic community by giving free exhibition space to over 20,000 artists, presenting 4,000 public art events, and providing 800 free art classes for under-resourced communities.
To that end, the organization invites applications to ChaNorth artist residency in Pine Plains, New York. The ChaNorth residency offers emerging and mid-career artists the opportunity to work and live in the Hudson Valley. The program annually hosts 48 artists during seven four-week sessions from April through November.
ChaNorth upholds the storied tradition of the Hudson Valley by providing local and international artists with a supportive and secluded environment to create new work. The artist residency is embedded in the rural communities of the surrounding towns, serving as a cultural resource for Hudson Valley. The program offers networking, exhibition, and teaching opportunities and promotes awareness and understanding of visual arts in a rural community through engagement with the artists. ChaNorth also sustains a successful partnership with McEnroe Organic Farm to supply healthy, fresh produce for the artist’s residency through a work exchange program.
ChaNorth accepts applications in all creative fields, including but not limited to visual arts, choreography, writing, music composition, and performance. National and international emerging and mid-career artists are welcome to apply. Artists enrolled in graduate and undergraduate programs at the time of their application are not eligible to apply.
The application process is in two stages: shortlisted artists will be asked for a 10 to15 minute Skype/phone interview scheduled from February/March 2023.
For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the Chashama website HERE.