Highlights include a KAYTRANADA musical set, artist-led workshops, gallery exhibit, skate programming and community market
Montréal, QC. (March 15, 2021) – Vans is thrilled to announce the first-ever digital House of Vans, live on houseofvans.cafrom March 22 – 25, 2021. The event brings together Vans’ brand pillars – skate, art, street culture and music – for a celebration of creativity and individuality. This year, the concept has been adapted into an online experience featuring an interactive skatepark, community market, artist workshops and a streamed musical performance. The innovative platform ushers in a new era of House of Vans; one that proves that, despite the physical distance between us, there will always be a cultural meeting place where the Vans family can gather.
“House of Vans is all about uplifting our creative community by providing them with a unique experience that champions self-expression. Since we can’t celebrate together in person this year, we’ve created an engaging digital platform to unite Vans fans – a place to learn, feel inspired and have fun,” says Alex Auchu, Marketing Director at Vans Canada.
To bring the iconic event online, Vans teamed up with Ryan Thomas Monahan to handcraft a miniature, seven-story House of Vans. Over two months, Monahan meticulously built the miniature with specific attention to upcycling; in the skatepark, for example, the small ramps are made from recycled skateboards and the sides of the ramps are reclaimed broken decks. The structure was then photographed and digitized, allowing users to swipe and scroll through to explore different floors, each hosting a different program.
The intuitive navigation, compatible with desktop and mobile, allows users to view the art show, shop the community market and watch skate video tutorials* – admission-free and from the comfort of home. Video tutorials will be viewable with French and English captioning.
*Full event schedule in Appendix A
ARTIST WORKSHOPS
Vans has partnered with three artists to host private workshops where attendees can learn alongside the community. From March 15-17, users can RSVP online here. Workshops will be hosted on Zoom, with 40 attendees accepted per workshop and final guestlist determined via raffle.
- Intro to DJing with Intersessions (Chippy Nonstop, Nino Brown and BabyGirl) (Toronto, ON)
- Intersessions is a seminar addressing the music industry’s gender and sex power imbalance. Guests will learn DJing 101 and receive a kit prior to the workshop with USB keys and a code to redeem and create a pair of Vans Customs.
- Cartooning with Jay Howell (Los Angeles, CA)
- Known from his iconic Bob’s Burgers cartooning, Jay will teach the tips and tricks behind his trade. Attendees will receive a kit prior to the workshop with drawing supplies and a code to redeem and create a pair of Vans Customs.
- Cookie Decorating with Lindsey Bakes (Toronto, ON)
- An expert baker, Lindsey will guide attendees on how the pros decorate cookies. Participants will receive a seeding kit prior to the workshop containing pre-baked cookies, icing and a code to redeem and create a pair of Vans Customs.
Alongside these private workshops, evergreen tutorial videos from each artist will be accessible on the workshop floor and open to the public.
STREET CULTURE
Inspired by small shops and their resilience throughout hardship, Vans is bringing back the community market, showcasing and selling the work of local artisans and vendors. Users can navigate the floor and visit each stall to make purchases.
Featured vendors include:
MUSIC PROGRAMMING
Vans and broadcasting platform Channel 66 have teamed up to give voice to upcoming musical talent, launching an ongoing radio platform where viewers can tune in any time to discover new tunes.
The main act will hit screens on March 24 at 9PM EST, opening with rapper Lou Phelps and headlined by Haitian-Canadian DJ and producer, KAYTRANADA.
ART PROGRAMMING
House of Vans will showcase a group art show curated by Dan Climan at Montréal’s Galerie Anteism, with the exhibit digitally broadcasted to houseofvans.ca, where guests can purchase original artwork and prints. Twelve Canadian artists were commissioned to create unique pieces, with proceeds from sales donated to Dillon Ojo Lifeline Foundation and Nations Skate Youth.
Othello Grey, Jacqueline Ashton and Les Ramsay are among the participating artists.
SKATE PROGRAMMING
Forever true to their skate roots, Vans will release a video and interview series highlighting boundary-pushing skate community leaders. This year’s programming includes a video interview by The Bunt with legendary skateboarder Alexis Lacroix, alongside video premieres from Calgary and Toronto based skateshops, Ninetimes and Blue Tile Lounge. Annie Guglia will host Skate Skool, a series of video tutorials teaching skateboarding basics.
For further information or to coordinate an interview with Alex Auchu from Vans Canada, contact bicom directly.
APPENDIX A:
HOUSE OF VANS SCHEDULE
| Monday 3/22 | 7:00pm EST | House of Vans Group Show: Curated by Dan Climan* |
| Tuesday 3/23 | 7:00pm EST | The Bunt Live Interview with Alexis Lacroix* |
| 8:00pm EST | WORKSHOP: Intro to DJing, hosted by Intersessions | |
| Wednesday 3/24 | 4:00pm EST | Blue Tile Lounge Skateshop Video Premiere* |
| 8:00pm EST | WORKSHOP: Cookie Decorating with Lindsey Bakes | |
| 9:00pm EST | Exclusive performance: Lou Phelps (opener) and KAYTRANADA (headliner) | |
| Thursday 3/25 | 4:00pm EST | Ninetimes Skateshop Video Premiere* |
| 8:00pm EST | WORKSHOP: Cartooning with Jay Howell | |
| Ongoing | Community Market | |
| Workshop Video Tutorials | ||
| Skate Skool Video Tutorials with Annie Guglia | ||
| Channel 66 Radio |
*Will live on platform after premiere until end of event
About Vans
Vans®, a VF Corporation (NYSE: VFC) brand, is the original action sports footwear, apparel and accessories brand. Vans® authentic collections are sold in 84 countries through a network of subsidiaries, distributors and international offices. Vans® has over 2,000 retail locations globally including owned, concession and partnership doors. The Vans® brand promotes creative self-expression in youth culture across action sports, art, music and street culture and delivers progressive platforms such as the Vans Park Series, Vans Triple Crown of Surfing®, Vans Pool Party, Vans Custom Culture, and Vans’ cultural hub and international music venue, House of Vans.
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