Rauschenberg Dancer Emergency Grants
Rauschenberg Dancer Emergency Grants support professional dancers facing lost live performance work by covering essential living expenses to help restore stability and sustain their creative practice.
Funder: New York Foundation for The Arts
Due Dates: October 6, 2026 (Cycle 26 deadline, 5:00 PM ET) | November 10, 2026 (Cycle 27 opens) | December 8, 2026 (Cycle 27 deadline, 5:00 PM ET) | January 12, 2027 (Cycle 28 opens) | February 2, 2027 (Cycle 28 deadline, 5:00 PM ET)
Funding Amounts: One-time grants up to $3,000 for up to three consecutive months of essential expenses
Summary: Emergency assistance for professional dancers whose essential needs are threatened by lost or unavailable recent live performance work.
Key Information: Applicants must demonstrate an urgent financial emergency caused by circumstances beyond their control.
Description
Administered by the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) with support from the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, this program helps professional dancers facing dire financial emergencies caused by the loss or lack of recent paid live performance work. Qualifying interruptions include canceled performances, reduced or canceled contracts, lost touring opportunities, and illness or injury. Assistance supports essential living expenses rather than production costs.
The program recognizes the severe and ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the dance sector, alongside other recent career interruptions. Its goal is to provide greater stability so dancers can move forward with their creative practice. Economic urgency is the central assessment criterion, and demand exceeds available funding.
