Announcing | Rauschenberg Emergency Grants Program

NYFA partners with Robert Rauschenberg Foundation to administer new emergency grant program that will provide one-time grants of up to $5,000 for medical emergencies.

The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) has partnered with the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation to administer a new medical emergency grant program called Rauschenberg Emergency Grants. This marks the first phase of a program that will be in the tradition of Change, Inc., a non-profit foundation established in 1970 by Robert Rauschenberg to assist professional artists of all disciplines in need.

Beginning in late May/early June 2020, the program will provide visual and media artists and choreographers with one-time grants of up to $5,000 for medical emergencies. Eligible expenses include, but are not limited to: hospital and doctor bills (including insurance co-pays), tests, physical/occupational therapy, prescription drugs specifically for the emergency medical condition, and emergency dental work. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and panels will meet monthly to ensure funds are distributed on a timely basis.  

“We are delighted to be partnering with NYFA to launch this program which directly reflects Bob’s own concern for the well-being of fellow creative practitioners. Bob was both responsive and generous in his own giving, and we aim to follow those values in developing the Foundation’s philanthropic initiatives.” said Kathy Halbreich, Executive Director of the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents in the United States, District of Columbia, or U.S. Territories and do not need insurance to apply. All eligible applications will be reviewed by a panel and assessed using the following two criteria: demonstrated need and impact of funds to allow the recipient to continue working. There is no deadline to apply, as applications will be accepted and reviewed by a panel on a monthly basis.

“For many artists, healthcare expenses take a back seat to other pressing needs like food, shelter, studio or practice space, and art supplies,” said Michael L. Royce, Executive Director, New York Foundation for the Arts. “As such, we are excited to partner with the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation to help ease some of the financial burdens that artists face following a medical emergency and help them to get back to work,” he added.

This project is supported by the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation.

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Image: Robert Rauschenberg in front of his Vydock series photographed in Rauschenberg’s Laika Lane studio, Captiva, FL, 1995, Photo Credit: Ed Chappell, Copyright: Robert Rauschenberg Foundation