Vans High School Custom Culture was created to inspire and empower high school students to embrace their creativity through art and design and bring attention to diminishing arts education budgets. Vans believes everyone should be empowered to express themselves creatively and should be given the tools to do so. Custom Culture High School is a national high school customization competition using blank Vans shoes to be customized around the specific themes, Hometown Pride and Head in the Clouds.
- Registration | Jan 4 – 29
- Digital Submission Open | Feb 1 – 19
- 250 Schools Selected for Physical Shoes | Feb 22 - 26
- Shoes Sent to Schools | Mar 1 - 5
- Physical Shoe Image Submission Due | Apr 16
- Top 50 Announced | Apr 26
- Public Vote Open | Apr 26 – May 7
- Top 5 and Winner Announcement | May 10 – 14
- Grand Prize Winner – $50,000
- Runner Up – $15,000
- Runner Up – $15,000
- Runner Up – $15,000
- Runner Up – $15,000
Take a seat and get creative with Oakland-based artist Olivia Krause. In this episode, Olivia shows off their style by customizing one-of-a-kind clothing.
Relax and get creative with Detroit-based multi-disciplinary artist Tony Whlgn. In this episode, Tony shows you how history inspires his signature character lettering.
Sit down and get empowered with Detroit-based visual artist and muralist Sydney James. In this video, Sydney brings her paintings off the wall to customize her Vans.
Pull out your skateboard and get creative with artist OJ Hays. In this video, OJ demonstrates how to show off your originality using grip tape to show off your unique style.
Get ready to take some inspiration from musician and artist Camilo Medina. In this episode, Camilo walks you through his creative process going from a sketch to a digital illustration.
Sit down with Los Angeles based Cartoonist Jay Howell. In this episode, Jay shares his favorite tools to create a collage with his humorous and wacky characters.
Spend a day with legendary Anti-Hero skateboard graphic designer and artist Todd Francis. In this episode, Todd illustrates how current events and issues shape the narrative of his satirical work.
Get inspired by Los Angeles native Noah Humes. In this video, Noah invites us into his process of using mixed media to add texture to his work.
Catch some magical vibes with Los Angeles based artist Penelope Gazin. In this episode, Penelope shows how she creates a painted pattern and shares creative tips along the way.
Take five with Los Angeles based artist Robin Eisenberg. In this video, Robin shares some creative tips and walks you through her process to illustrate one of her characters.
Catch some creative tips with Los Angles based cartoonist and illustrator Jay Howell. In this video, Jay shares how he designs and develops one of his characters from start to finish.
Come along on a voyage of creativity with Los Angeles based artist Todd Francis. In this video, Todd explains how he creates art for skateboard graphics.
Turn up the heat and get inspired by Miami based artist Kelly Breez. In this episode, Kelly shares some creative tips and shows how she creates a painted wood cutout covered in resin.
Kelly Breez is a multidisciplinary artist and tropical person. Her work chronicles the delightfully unholy attitude and landscape of South Florida, where the character she grew up with left the decorum and prohibitions of elitist culture in the dust. She works in and combines illustration, sculpture, tufting, painting, and installation.
Yoobi creates bright fun, colorful stuff for school, home and office that gives back! For every Yoobi item purchased, a Yoobi item is donated to a U.S. classroom in need. Vans High School Custom Culture is excited for Yoobi to be the exclusive arts supplies partner providing gift cards to all confirmed participating schools to be able to purchase the needed supplies to show off their talents and creativity!
To date, Yoobi has provided school supplies to over 5 million kids across the U.S. and is proud to continue providing students the supplies they need in art education through partnerships like Vans High School Custom Culture.
Journeys is proud to support student artists, and has partnered with Vans High School Custom Culture for the past 9 years. Much like the Custom Culture program, Journeys embraces youth culture, individuality, passion, and style. Journeys will award the students in the Top 5 winning schools each a gift card to their store in recognition of their accomplishments.
Scholarship America is a nonprofit organization that helps students fulfill their college dreams. Since it was founded in 1958, Scholarship America has distributed $4.5 billion to more than 2.8 million students, making it the nation’s largest private scholarship provider. The organization runs its own national and community-based scholarship programs and works with partners wishing to establish scholarship and support programs to lower barriers to a college education and give students the support needed to succeed. Learn more at scholarshipamerica.org.
