Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants: One-Time Grants of Up to $5,000 Available for Artists Who Have Experienced Medical, Dental, and Mental Health Emergencies Within the Last Six Months

2021

Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants

  • Apply Now: One-Time Grants of Up to $5,000 Available for Artists Who Have Experienced Medical, Dental, and Mental Health Emergencies Within the Last Six Months (January 2021 or later). Application Closes on October 4. 

New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) and the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation are offering one-time grants of up to $5,000 to artists who practice in the visual arts, film/video/electronic/digital arts, and choreography, are in financial need and have experienced unexpected medical, dental, and mental health emergencies occurring January 1, 2021 or later. The application is due October 4, 2021. Requirements and eligibility are below. 

Eligibility: 

To be eligible, 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).

Eligible expenses include, but are not limited to:

  • Bills from your hospital/doctor/dentist/clinic, including co-pays 

  • Tests/diagnostics/assessments/consultations to determine necessary treatment

  • Physical/occupational therapy, acupuncture, and chiropractic

  • Prescription drugs specifically for the emergency medical condition

  • Emergency dental work

  • Transportation expenses to/from appointments/treatments

Non-eligible expenses: 

  • Non-emergency medical conditions

  • Ongoing medical/psychological/psychiatric treatment

  • Wellness visits

  • Regular check-ups, annual exams, or procedures

  • Standard vision care, eyeglasses, or hearing aids and equipment (unless required as a direct result of an emergency injury/surgery/condition)

  • Elective procedures

  • Treatment, prescriptions, or other expenses related to a chronic condition (chronic diseases are defined broadly as conditions that last one year or more and require ongoing medical, dental, or mental health attention or limit activities of daily living or both)

  • Insurance purchase/premiums, or any non-medical expenses, even if the result of an emergency

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 flare-up of an existing mental health condition.

Funds will 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. If funded, the grant will cover related, eligible expenses incurred for up to 12 months from the date of the emergency and you will be required to submit copies of paid bills/receipts and may also be required to submit a copy of your two most recently filed tax returns, demonstrating their adjusted gross income. 

Recipients will be notified on November 9. 

More information can be found on the Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants website: