Skip to content

RARE Artist

RARE Artist is a national advocacy program where the rare disease community uses art to share their stories and drive meaningful change.

Share this page

Artist shows back of painted jacket at RARE Foundation event
RARE Artists DaNice D Marshall and Beatriz Fraga at RARE Disease Day at NIH
RARE Artists DaNice Marshall and Beatriz Fraga at RARE Disease Day at NIH

Art as Advocacy

RARE Artist is a national advocacy program, established in 2010, where the rare disease community uses art to share their stories and drive meaningful change.

Through the annual RARE Artist contest, patients, caregivers, siblings, and loved ones express their experiences through visual art, poetry, music, and short-form video.

Contest Overview

Eligibility

Open to individuals living in the United States with, or connected to, a rare disease (affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S.). Eligibility may be confirmed through the NIH Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD).

Categories

  • 2D Visual Art – drawing, painting, illustration, and more
  • 3D Material Art – ceramics, sculpture, mixed media, and more
  • Digital Art & Photography – photography and digitally created artwork
  • Poetry – up to 300 words
  • Music –up to 4 minutes
  • Short-Form Video – up to 5 minutes

Artists may submit up to two entries, each including original work and an artist statement (200 words or fewer), connecting the piece to advocacy and lived experience. Check out how to write an artist statement!

Awards & Opportunities

Submissions are reviewed by a panel of judges, with 20 finalists advancing to public voting.

10 RARE Artist awardees are selected, with at least one in each category. A Rising Artist Award is also presented to an artist under 18. Awardees receive a $600 cash prize, travel support for RARE Disease Week on Capitol Hill and Ultragenyx Rare Family Day, a professionally produced feature video, and opportunities to showcase art and engage in advocacy.

Timeline

The contest opens in the summer. Public voting to select the 2026 awardees is open October 9 – 23.

Learn More & Apply

View submission guidelines and apply through the RARE Artist Awards Platform.

How to Apply

Beyond the Contest

RARE Artist offers opportunities for artists to connect and advocate through an online group, webinars, and workshops for past participants. Join the RARE Artist Facebook group!

Support the RARE Artist Program

Meet RARE Artists

See our previous RARE Artists.

See Awardees
RARE Artist Dana Simmons at RARE Disease Week

The Rare Artist program is made possible through the generous support of our sponsors:

Corporate Sponsorship

Advocate

Individual Donors

Philanthropic Leadership

In memory of Ron and Bev Judd

The Choi Family

Artist Sponsors

Brett McReynolds

Miriam Zimms