The Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants program provides one-time grants of up to $5,000 for recent unexpected medical, dental, and mental health emergencies to artists in financial need* who are creating in the visual arts, film/video/electronic/digital arts, and choreography.

NEW: Previous recipients of a Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants may apply again, after five years have elapsed from their first grant award date

*To be eligible to apply, your average adjusted gross income for the last two years you’ve filed tax returns must be no greater than $75,000 ($150,000 for joint filers).

Please note:
Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants are not for lost wages, living expenses, or medical care for individuals other than the artist. Visit NYFA’s Emergency Resources page for a regularly-updated list of emergency resources.

The need for emergency funding far outpaces available funds. An application to this grant program is not a guarantee of a grant award. In each cycle, we will distribute approximately $150,000 in total funding. Learn more about the review and decision-making process at the bottom of this page.

This program and Rauschenberg Dancer Emergency Grants are made possible through the support of the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation. Robert Rauschenberg was committed to assisting fellow artists in need of emergency aid, ultimately establishing the nonprofit foundation Change, Inc. in 1970. In this spirit, this program is designed to serve artists in financial need who otherwise may delay critical treatment or incur substantial and perhaps overwhelming debt.

Timeline:
Applications Open
August 12 at 10:00 AM ET

Applications Close
September 9 at 5:00 PM ET**

Applicants Notified
October 24, 2025

*Please note that the application form on Submittable will automatically close and stop accepting applications at this time.

The timeline for Cycle 32 is listed above. Cycle 32 is For emergencies occurring February 1, 2025 and later.

Learn More

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New York Foundation for the Arts