Rare Artist

Rare Artists finalists participate in individualized artist-to-advocate coaching to strengthen their advocacy voice.

The Rare Artist Program, powered by the EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases, provides a national platform for artists to advocate through visual artwork, music, poetry. The Rare Artist Program was established in 2010 to exhibit the unique gifts of individuals with, or affiliated with, a rare disease to tell their story through art. Now in its 12th year, the Rare Artist Program is focused on providing a national platform for artists to advocate through visual artwork and powerful artist statements. Rare Artist awardees are presented checks and invited to speak during Rare Disease Week on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Their artwork is showcased throughout the year at various patient and biopharmaceutical conferences, displayed at the Rare Hub, social media, and website posts.

06/29/2026

🎬 Did you know Rare Artist has a new accepted medium, short-form video?

Videos may be up to 5 minutes and could be:
🎥 A mini documentary
🎞️ An animation or stop motion film
📱 A glimpse into your daily life
✨ Your rare disease story, authentic to you

As a special opportunity, top videos may be invited to be featured on the Disorder Channel, with artist permission.

📅 Enter by July 20 at RareArtist.org

06/23/2026

🎨 Last chance! Applications for Rare Family Day 2026 travel stipends close this Friday, June 26.

Hosted by Ultragenyx in the San Francisco Bay Area, Rare Family Day brings rare families together from across the country for a day of connection, music, food, fun, advocate speakers, and a special Rare Artist display featuring artwork from members of the rare disease community.

Thanks to the generous support of Ultragenyx, EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases will award a limited number of travel stipends and coordinate travel arrangements for selected families, including flights, hotel accommodations, transportation, and meals.

📅 October 2–4, 2026
📍 San Francisco Bay Area
⏰ Apply by June 26

Families affected by rare, ultra-rare, and undiagnosed conditions are encouraged to apply.

Apply at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/S5TTSS3

06/18/2026

🎨 Big news! Rare Artist, a program of EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases, has launched its first exhibition at Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C.

Featuring artwork from 30 Rare Artist awardees, the exhibit highlights how children, teens, young adults, and caregivers use art to share their stories and advocate for the rare disease community.

Local to the D.C. area? Join an artist reception on August 1. Contact [email protected] for details!

Want your artwork featured in a future exhibition? Entries for Rare Artist 2026 are now open at RareArtist.org!

06/16/2026

Apply for the scholarship now — http://rareartist.org 🔗

Calling all rare artists 🎨✨ The Rare Artist program by the EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases is giving artists impacted by rare disease a platform to turn creativity into advocacy. From visual art and poetry to music, this program celebrates the powerful stories within the rare disease community. 💜

Selected artists can receive mentorship, advocacy coaching, national recognition, monetary prizes, and the opportunity to showcase their work during Rare Disease Week on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
Your story matters. Your art matters. Your voice deserves to be seen and heard.

Tag a rare artist below or share this with someone who should apply. 🎭🖌️🎶

06/11/2026

Rare Artist is honored to be featured by the Rare Genomics Institute!

"Rare Artist is an advocacy opportunity that allows people to share their rare disease journey through art—from the diagnostic odyssey to barriers in accessing care—and to center the human experience behind the diagnosis." — Stephanie Riordan, Senior Director of Patient Programs, EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases

Learn how Rare Artist helps individuals affected by rare disease share their stories, raise awareness, and advocate through creativity: https://www.raregenomics.org/news-events-blogs/inside-everylife-foundations-rare-artist-program

🎨 Rare Artist 2026, powered by EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases, is now open through July 20. Share your story. Advocate through art. Enter at RareArtist.org

06/08/2026

🎨 Share your story. Advocate through art.

The 2026 Rare Artist Contest, powered by the EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases, is now open! 10 awardees will have their work showcased at Rare Disease Week on Capitol Hill in 2027, receive a cash prize, and more.

Categories include 2D Art, 3D Art, Digital Art & Photography, Poetry, Music, and Short Video.

Learn more and enter by July 20: RareArtist.org

06/01/2026

✨ 1 week until Rare Artist 2026, powered by EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases, opens! Your story. Your art. Your advocacy.

🎨 2D Visual Art • 3D Material Art • Digital Art & Photography • Poetry • Music • Short-Form Video

Submissions accepted June 8–July 20. Enter at rareartist.org

05/22/2026

We are so proud of our 2025 Rare Artists, Alex Yiu, who is featured in the documentary UNDIAGNOSED, now streaming: https://undiagnosedfilm.com/streaming. The film highlights both the cutting-edge science and the very real human impact of undiagnosed illnesses on families around the world.

Alex created his song “Tennessee” using an Eye Gaze machine as both an instrument and a tool to help write lyrics. Due to disease progression, Alex is unable to speak or walk independently, and music has become a powerful way for him to share his story. “Tennessee” reflects a place he dreams of visiting freely, without the limitations of his disease.

Over the past year, Alex has spent extended time in the hospital, and Rare Artist became a source of motivation, creativity, and connection during some of his hardest days. His nurses even rallied around him during public voting last year!

Learn more about Alex's journey at https://everylifefoundation.org/portfolio-item/tennessee/.

Join us in celebrating Alex and the power of storytelling through art. If you’d like to leave words of encouragement for him, drop them in the comments below 💛

05/18/2026

Register today!

Join us on Thursday, May 21, at 2 PM ET for an Rare Disease Legislative Advocates Share Your Story webinar. Attendees will learn how to share their story through art.

Three rare artists will lead the conversation:

DaNice Marshall, In Someone Else’s Shoes
Zanny Nicholas, Alive Again
Solana Acuna, PrismOfLove

In addition to the presentation, there will be a Q&A session with the rare artists, and a segment about how to write your artist statement with Stephanie Riordan, our Senior Director of Patient Programs. For Stephanie’s segment, please have paper and writing utensils or a digital tablet for this activity.

We look forward to seeing all of you there! Please register here: https://hubs.li/Q04gQDqM0

04/27/2026

🎬 Lights. Camera. Advocacy.

Introducing the newest medium for the 2026 Rare Artist Contest: 🎥 Short-Form Video (5 minutes or less)

10 Rare Artist Awardees will be recognized, with at least one in each category, as well as a Rising Artist under 18.

Categories:
2D Visual Art • 3D Material Art • Digital Art & Photography • Poetry • Music • Short-Form Video

Rare Artist opens June 8. Learn more at RareArtist.org.

Start rolling 🎥

Address

Washington D.C., DC

Telephone

+12026977273

Website

http://www.rareartist.org/

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Send a message to Rare Artist:

Thelma D. Jones Breast Cancer Fund
400 I Street, SW

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