FAQs

“Dire financial emergencies“ include the lack or imminent endangerment of essentials such as housing, medicine/healthcare, utilities, and food, due to the artist’s loss or lack of current/recent live performance work, because of circumstances outside of their control. Common circumstances include cancelled performances, cutbacks or cancellations of dance engagement contracts, loss of touring opportunities, illness or injury, and ongoing shutdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact.

Your recent and sustained commitment is demonstrated through your resume/bio/CV attached to your application.

List your engagements as a paid, live dance performer for at least the last five years, in any stage/performance style, including aerial, ballet, hip-hop, jazz, modern, tap and traditional/folk. List the production/event name, your role/position, the year, and the location (venue if any, city and state). If you perform your own work live, your resume needs to clearly indicate that you were BOTH the choreographer and dancer. Your resume may list all of your performance work (for instance, ticketed stage performances, free street festivals and music videos), but you should specifically list/highlight/notate your live, public-facing performances since 2019. Inactivity, or online/streaming activity, during COVID (2020-21), and during the last six months, is allowable.

Performances in educational/academic settings, social dance, competitive settings, clubs, exotic dance, commercials, and industrials cannot be considered in this history of performing. Self-produced online presentation, and/or performances shared solely through Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, or other online platforms are not eligible.

We do not accept work samples or URLs/links.

Two things: Who is eligible, and what expenses can be requested. Both programs are for artists in need, and therefore have an income ceiling for eligibility. Please see each program’s guidelines for additional details. Both have multiple cycles running through at least June, 2025.

Rauschenberg Dancer Emergency Grants are open to professional dancers in a dire financial emergency due to the artist’s loss or lack of current live performance work, because of circumstances outside of their control. Eligible applicants may request essential expenses such as housing, food, utilities, and medical care. Choreographers may not apply unless they also have recent and sustained activity as a professional dancer.

Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants are open to artists working in the visual arts, film/video/digital/electronic arts, and choreography. Eligible applicants may request funds for recent medical/dental/mental health emergencies. Dancers may not apply unless they also have recent and sustained activity as a choreographer.

Yes.

No. Available funds are limited to approximately $65,000 in each grant cycle, and the demand for emergency funding is high.

We make every effort to notify applicants of their status within six weeks of the application deadline. For those receiving grants, additional documentation is required, and payment processing can take a minimum of up to 30 business days after all paperwork is submitted. These processing times are subject to change.

Due to the large number of qualified applications and the limited amount of funds, NYFA uses a two-step award process.

1. Applications are checked by NYFA Grants Staff for eligibility and completeness. Eligible and complete applications will be then reviewed by an outside panel and assessed using the following criterion: Economic Urgency.

2. Following the panel review, the top pool of applications based on scores is placed into a lottery for the final awards.

Please note, available funds are limited to approximately $65,000 in each grant cycle, and the demand for emergency funding is high. Applying for a grant does not guarantee receiving one.

Yes, if you also can demonstrate being a professional dancer in live performance over at least the last five years.

This program is intended for dancers who have lost live performing engagements/opportunities for public audiences. Therefore, performances in competitive settings, K-12 educational settings, social dance, and commercial settings (clubs, exotic dance, commercials, industrials, etc.) are not eligible.

Yes, if the production was available for broad public viewing which is demonstrated on the resume (screening, broadcast, etc.), and if you also perform in live productions. If you perform exclusively in film/television, you may not apply.

Yes, if it is clear that your roles were primarily as a dancer.

Yes, if you also can demonstrate being a professional dance performer over at least the last five years.

Yes, you must summarize your typical professional dance activity in the past, any change in that activity over the last six months and your current level of paid dance work. You must also demonstrate, through your narrative, an urgent and critical need for emergency funding.

No. With our limited funds, we want to serve as many artists as possible.

If you are not awarded funding, and you still meet the eligibility criteria for a future cycle, you may re-apply. You may not receive more than one Rauschenberg Emergency grant in a lifetime.

Monthly rent and security deposits. Mortgage payments and mortgage insurance, and property/liability insurance, are not eligible. You may request a maximum of three months’ expenses.

Monthly electric, gas, internet and cellphone expenses, and purchases of home heating fuel. Cable television expenses are not eligible. You may request a maximum of three months’ expenses.

Purchases of groceries and prepared food for the individual dance applicant only. Dine-in restaurant expenses are not eligible. You may request a maximum of three months’ expenses.

Monthly insurance premiums for the individual dance applicant only; out-of-pocket expenses for medical, dental and/or mental health treatment. Expenses for glasses, contacts or hearing aids may be requested if the item was purchased during the time period covered in the application, as can be expenses for regular prescribed medications and personal hygiene items.

Vehicle payments, vehicle insurance, fuel, rideshares/taxis, and mass transit. For monthly expenses, you may request a maximum of three months’ worth.

You must describe the essential nature of any additional types of expenses, and describe/itemize the expense. For monthly expenses, you may request a maximum of three months’ worth.

Up to $1,000 of your request may be for expenses essential to maintaining your abilities as a dancer such as:

• Class fees
• Dance gear/shoes
• Physical therapy.

Studio/rehearsal space rent/utilities for income-generating activities (teaching class, choreographing new work, rehearsing for an upcoming engagement, etc.).

Up to three months’ worth of expenses may be requested.

Ineligible expenses include, but are not limited to: Mortgage payments; expenses related to other family members – e.g. food, healthcare, child/parent-care; credit card debt or student loans; and purchases of vehicles or other equipment.

NYFA reserves the right to determine eligible and reasonable expenses to support.

No.

Cycle 13:

Applications Open: Tuesday, July 2 at 10:00 AM ET

Applications Close: Tuesday, July 30 at 5:00 PM ET

Applicants Notified: September 6, 2024

For essential expenses between January 1 – December 31, 2024

Cycle 14:

Applications Open: Tuesday, July 30 at 10:00 AM ET

Applications Close: Tuesday, August 27 at 5:00 PM ET

Applicants Notified: October 4, 2024

For essential expenses between February 1, 2024 – January 31, 2025

Cycle 15:

Applications Open: Tuesday, September 10 at 10:00 AM ET

Applications Close: Tuesday, October 8 at 5:00 PM ET

Applicants Notified: November 22, 2024

For essential expenses between April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025

*Please note that the application form on Submittable will automatically close and stop accepting applications at this time.

All eligible applications are reviewed at the same time by the panel, so there is no advantage to applying quickly or early. We recommend you take your time to submit a strong and complete application by the deadline.