Oliver Tree’s Pre-Planned Arts Foundation Launches Two Weeks After His Death

Two weeks after Oliver Tree died in a helicopter crash in Brazil, his family has carried out a posthumous plan the singer had been outlining for years. On Saturday, they launched Dr. Oliver Tree’s Extremely Epic Art Grant for Baby Geniuses — a foundation designed to fund work by emerging artists in music, film, installation, and performance art, exactly as Tree intended.

In video interviews posted on the foundation’s website, Tree laid out a blunt philosophy: the best way for artists to develop is “by physically getting their hands dirty and creating things,” not through formal education. The grants will not pay for school or for purchasing equipment. Instead, the money is meant to cover hiring collaborators and renting gear — the practical costs of realizing a project. “That’s the belief for me,” Tree said.

A committee of Tree’s former creative collaborators will vote each year on where the funds go. The foundation said the singer directed that non-art-related and non-sentimental assets be sold to build the grant fund, which is designed to remain active for 50 to 100 years. Donations will also be accepted. Application timelines and submission details have not yet been released.

Separately, a memorial service and celebration of life will be held July 25 at the Quarry Amphitheater at the University of California, Santa Cruz, with a livestream for those unable to attend in person.