NYFA Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants

The Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants program provides one-time grants of up to $5,000 for artists facing recent unexpected medical, dental, and mental health emergencies. Administered by the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) with funding from the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, this program aims to support artists in the visual arts, film/video/electronic/digital arts, and choreography disciplines. Only generative artists who create their own independent work and maintain ongoing opportunities for public engagement are eligible to apply. The program does not cover lost wages, living expenses, or care for others. The grant is intended to assist with emergencies that pose a severe impact on the artist’s daily life and ability to continue their creative practice. Emergencies must be one-time, unexpected, and non-chronic, resulting from illness, violence, accidents, or sudden medical events. Eligible expenses include hospital and provider bills, diagnostic tests, therapy, prescription drugs related to the emergency, emergency dental work, and transportation to treatment. Ineligible expenses cover ongoing treatment for chronic conditions, elective procedures, standard wellness care, and non-medical costs. Applicants must meet strict eligibility requirements. They must be generative artists in the eligible disciplines, be at least 21 years old, reside in the United States or its territories, have an adjusted gross income of $75,000 or lower ($150,000 for joint filers), and not be enrolled in a degree program or have previously received a Rauschenberg Medical or Dancer Emergency Grant. The emergency and treatment must occur within the U.S. Applicants must also demonstrate a sustained artistic practice over at least the past five years with public engagement. Specific artistic disciplines and definitions are provided to ensure clarity on eligibility. To apply, artists must submit an online application through Submittable. The application requires contact information, details about the medical emergency, requested funding amount, expense list, impact on creative practice, financial situation, and documentation such as invoices and proof of diagnosis. A resume detailing recent and sustained artistic activity is also required. Applications are reviewed first for eligibility by NYFA staff and then by an external panel, which evaluates based on need, severity of condition, economic impact, and the potential for the funding to enable continued artistic work. Final awards are selected by lottery among top-rated applications. The program runs in recurring cycles. For FY25, Cycle 27 opens on October 29, 2024, and closes on November 26, 2024. Cycle 28 opens on December 17, 2024, and closes on January 14, 2025. Cycle 29 opens on February 11, 2025, and closes on March 11, 2025. Cycle 30 opens on April 15, 2025, and closes on May 13, 2025. Applicants are notified approximately six to eight weeks after each cycle closes. Questions and requests for accommodations can be directed to Mollie Quinlan-Hayes at emergencyfunds@nyfa.org or 212-366-6900 ext. 239. Additional information sessions are recorded and available for reference.

Submit complete documentation, including clear invoices and proof of diagnosis. Provide thorough responses to all required questions.