The family of singer Oliver Tree has established a foundation to award grants to young artists, fulfilling plans he outlined before his death. The move comes two weeks after Tree died in a helicopter crash in Brazil.
Tree’s relatives launched Dr. Oliver Tree’s Extremely Epic Art Grant for Baby Geniuses on June 27. The organization will fund projects in music, film, installation, and performance art, with grants focused on hands-on creation rather than education or equipment purchases.
Tree discussed the foundation in interviews months earlier, stating that “when I die, all the money is going to go back to artists” and that it should last “for 100 years.” Specified assets are being sold to start the fund, and donations are now accepted at olivertreefoundation.com.
A separate celebration of life and memorial service is scheduled for July 25 at the University of California, Santa Cruz’s Quarry Amphitheater. The event will be livestreamed for fans due to limited space.
Tree, whose real name was Oliver Tree Nickell, died on June 14 at age 32. His final album, Love You Madly Hate You Badly, was released in April.
