Rauschenberg Dancer Emergency Grants
Provides emergency grants to professional dancers in the U.S. facing financial crises due to lost live performance work, supporting essential living expenses for up to three months.
Funder: New York Foundation for The Arts
Due Dates (Anticipated): October 2026 | December 2026 | February 2027 | March 2027 | May 2027
Funding Amounts: Up to $3,000 per grant (one-time); approx. $65,000 awarded per cycle; covers up to 3 months of essential expenses.
Summary: Provides one-time emergency financial support to professional dancers in the U.S. facing dire financial emergencies due to loss of live performance work.
Key Information: Applicants must demonstrate urgent need and meet all eligibility criteria; demand far exceeds available funds.
Description
This program offers one-time grants of up to $3,000 to professional dancers residing in the United States, its territories, D.C., or Tribal Nations, who are experiencing dire financial emergencies as a result of lost or canceled live performance work due to circumstances beyond their control (such as illness, injury, or pandemic-related shutdowns). The grant is intended to help cover up to three months of essential expenses—including housing, utilities, healthcare, food, and transportation—providing short-term stability for artists in crisis. The program is administered by the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) with support from the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, and places a strong emphasis on applicant privacy and accessibility.
