The Vans Custom Culture competition allows high school art classes to submit their own take on white Vans with a chance to win one of five US regions and proceed to the finals in New York where the winning school can win a $50,000 grant. This is huge money at a time when many schools' budget crunches are resulting in art programs being cut, but senior design manager Jon Warren realizes that "If kids don't get exposed to art, how are we going to have new designers?" The company was originally inspired to use their signature checkerboard pattern after seeing how young skaters customized their kicks back in the day, and this contest keeps the spirit of youthful innovation alive while providing a lifeline to a course of study that’s both critical and unfortunately overlooked. For more info check out vans.com/customculture.
