Cultured, Saltwater, and Shopify Announce $1 Million Los Angeles Relief Fund for Artists Impacted by the Wildfires

In early January, Americans watched as wildfires ripped through the Los Angeles area. Even with crews and authorities working around the clock, the wildfires continued to grow. According to Los Angeles County officials, the fires claimed the lives of nearly 30 people. With the fires destroying thousands of acres worth of land, 200,000 people were advised to evacuate. Although crews continued to fight the flames, many residents returned to find their lives and homes completely destroyed. Helping those impacted by the fire, the CEO of Saltwater, Ryan Graves, announced a relief fund aimed at artists. 

Videos by American Songwriter

Los Angeles, home to millions of people, is known for its art and inspiring the culture. With the movie industry, and much of the music industry based out of the L.A. area, many artists hope to rebuild their lives. And Graves wanted to make that process a little easier. With CULTURED, Saltwater, and Shopify joining forces, Graves insisted, “When I learned about the devastating fires in Los Angeles, I was struck by the human impact on our creative community. Our team felt compelled to create a solution that could scale through technology while directly supporting artists in crisis.”

Ryan Graves Ready To Help Rebuild Los Angeles

Looking at the details behind the new fund, a press release read, “The fund will be offering up to $20,000 grants to artists impacted by the fires, with an initial match of $200,000 from Saltwater. Artists will be reviewed through an application process and selected by the fund’s distribution committee, composed of Graves, Harrelson, Hauser & Wirth Senior Director Mike Davis, patron and Arkive founder Tom McLeod, and Supervsn Studios founder Gavin Mathieu.”

Knowing the process of rebuilding one’s life can take years, Graves wanted to offer some quick relief. “Aid for Artists has an immediate, focused mission: helping displaced artists return to their creative practices as quickly as possible. While we have ambitious long-term potential, we’re starting with a clear, achievable goal of deploying $1 million in direct aid to the Los Angeles art community.”

While families, neighbors, and officials banded together, Graves praised to the power that can rise from hardship. “I’ve seen how powerful initiatives can grow from humble, focused beginnings. Our priority is making an immediate, meaningful impact in artists’ lives, while remaining open to expanding our reach as we prove our model’s effectiveness.”

(Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)