Vans hosts custom design contest for high school art funding

Shoewear company Vans has launched a contest entitled the Vans Custom Culture in partnership with Laguna College of Art and Design (LCAD). This year, the lifestyle brand has decided to open up the voting to the public for the winner starting May 10.

Within two weeks, Vans will allow anyone to vote for their favorite semi-finalist design for the contest. The winner will receive 50,000 dollars for their high school art program. “Custom Culture gives these young creatives a platform to showcase their talent nationwide, while calling attention to the much needed funding for arts education,” said Megan Klempa, Vans Custom Culture program manager. The vote from the public will ultimately narrow down the finalists to five, who will then travel to Los Angeles for a final judging. The final winner will be announced on June 7. The runner ups will receive 4,000 dollars for their high school programs.

The content is a way to help inspire youth creativity through friendly competition. "Inspiration and creativity is the foundation of Custom Culture and continues Vans' ethos of enabling creative expression," Klempa said in a statement. “The concepts behind these designs are a testament to the innovative mindset of the hundreds of students that participate in the program.” Each design is made from a student who creates a Vans “Off The Wall” lifestyle including either sports, music, art, and local flavor. While providing funding for local art education, the Vans contest is a way to help improve art programs.