Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants

The Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants, administered by the New York Foundation for the Arts, provide one-time funding up to $5,000 for artists facing unexpected medical emergencies. This program aims to alleviate financial burdens caused by medical costs, ensuring that artists can receive necessary care without delay. Eligible applicants must be practicing artists in visual arts, film, or choreography, and demonstrate financial need. This initiative supports artists of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those outside major coastal cities.

Program Description
New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) is proud to partner with the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation to administer the Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants. Robert Rauschenberg was committed to assisting fellow artists in need of emergency medical 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.
This is a competitive grant program. Please review our eligibility requirements and the eligible types of expenses to determine that you are eligible before applying. If you have questions, please contact the grants administrator. This project is supported by the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation.
We strongly encourage artists of color, LGBTQ+ artists, artists with disabilities, and artists living outside of the East and West coasts to apply.

Eligibility

This program provides one-time grants of up to $5,000 for recent unexpected medical, dental, and mental health emergencies that have occurred in the last six months to artists in financial need who are practicing in the visual arts, film/video/electronic/digital arts, and choreography.Eligible applicants may apply for funds for emergency mental health, medical or dental treatment, whether related to the impacts of Hurricane Helene or not.To be eligible to apply, you must:Be an artist working in visual arts, film/video/digital/electronic arts, or choreographyThe applicant must be the maker of the creative work.Be 21 years or older on the cycle’s deadlineReside in the United States, the District of Columbia, a Tribal Nations, or a U.S. TerritoryHave an adjusted gross income of $75,000 or lower for an individual, or $150,000 for joint filers, averaged over the last two federal tax returnsIf funded, you may be required to submit a copy of your two most recently filed tax returns, demonstrating their adjusted gross income.Your medical emergency and treatment must occur in the U.S. (including D.C., Tribal Nations and U.S. Territories)Demonstrate current and ongoing activity in your artistic disciplinePlease check that the medical emergency falls within the specified date range for the current grant cycle.Eligible expenses include, but are not limited to, these out of pocket costs to the artist:Provider (hospital/doctor/dentist/clinic) bills, including co-paysTests/diagnostics/assessments/consultations to determine necessary treatmentPhysical/occupational therapy, acupuncture, chiropracticPrescription drugs specifically for the emergency medical conditionEmergency dental workTransportation expenses to/from appointments/treatmentsGrantees will be required to submit copies of paid bills/receipts.Funds go directly to the artist, not a medical provider, vendor, or any individual on the grantee’s behalf. Grant awards are routinely paid via direct deposit.Related, eligible expenses incurred for up to 12 months from the date of the emergency.

Ineligibility

Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants are not for lost wages, living expenses or medical care for individuals other than the artist.Television producers, television/film performers and crew members, dance performers, et al are not eligible.Performing artists in film/video or television/live performance, performing arts recorded digitally, and performances/writing distributed online, are not eligible.The artist cannot be enrolled in any degree-seeking program.Grants cannot be requested for non-emergency medical conditions, ongoing medical/psychological/psychiatric treatment; wellness visits; regular check-ups, annual exams or procedures; standard vision care or eyeglasses, or hearing aids (unless required as a direct result of an emergency injury/surgery/condition); elective procedures; insurance purchase/premiums, or any non-medical expenses, even if the result of an emergency.Grants cannot be requested for treatment, prescriptions, or other expenses related to a chronic condition, or, generally, for eyeglasses, hearing aids or equipment.Extenuating circumstances which cause an unexpected and severe worsening of the condition may be considered at the discretion of the review panel. Example: A recent traumatic incident triggered a flareup of an existing mental health condition. Student exhibits, performances, and other activities are not considered. We do not accept portfolios/work samples. Reduced activity during the pandemic is acceptable.