Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants
Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants support artists in financial need with assistance for unexpected medical, dental, and mental health emergencies so they can continue or return to creative practice.
Funder: New York Foundation for The Arts
Due Dates: November 17, 2026 (Cycle 39) | January 12, 2027 (Cycle 40) | March 16, 2027 (Cycle 41)
Funding Amounts: One-time grants up to $5,000; approximately $138,000 available per cycle
Summary: Emergency assistance helps artists in financial need obtain medical, dental, or mental health care and continue their creative practice.
Key Information: Average adjusted gross income from the two most recent federal tax returns must not exceed $80,000 ($160,000 jointly).
Description
Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants provide one-time assistance for recent, unexpected medical, dental, and mental health emergencies affecting artists in financial need. Administered by the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) with support from the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, the program serves generative artists creating original, independent work in visual arts, digital/electronic arts, video/film, and choreography.
The program helps artists obtain critical treatment they might otherwise delay or finance through substantial debt, supporting their ability to continue or return to creative practice. Assistance addresses the artist’s own emergency expenses, including already-paid costs and anticipated care. Selection considers demonstrated need, medical and economic severity, and the potential impact of assistance on creative practice—not the production of artwork.
