Vans Checkerboard day 2021 is here: A global and local celebration

Vans is celebrating its annual Vans Checkerboard Day on 18 November 2021. This edition encourages the use of creativity to improve the community after a year and a half of separation and “neglected” spaces. In this way, we all contribute a grain of sand from the individual level, to corporate well-being. Because as this year’s claim says: together makes it better.

This year, Vans will partner with DoSomething.org, a global non-profit organisation whose core competency is to galvanise young people to take action at scale. The goal is to invite fans to participate in local and digital activations that help build vibrant, inclusive and rejuvenated public spaces through art and culture.

“Research shows that art and creative expression not only benefit an individual’s academic, physical and mental well-being, but uplift and improve entire communities; especially when shared in public spaces,” says Doug Palladini, president of the Vans Global brand. “Many of our local communities and public spaces have been somewhat neglected since March 2020. As advocates for the power of creativity, we are encouraging Vans fans to join us this Vans Checkboard Day 2021 to be part of activities and initiatives that show how creativity truly revitalizes our communities.”

There are multiple ways to celebrate Vans Checkerboard Day this 18 November. Choose the one that suits you best:

• DIGITAL: Vans.eu/checkerboardday will serve as an action directory in collaboration with  DoSomething.org for fans to participate in a variety of digital activations.
• REDES SOCIALES: el TikTok Challenge #VansCheckerboardDay compartirá proyectos comunitarios inspiradores, formas de lucir el estampado checkerboard y consejos para unirse a la celebración a través de los embajadores de Vans.
• SOCIAL NETWORKS: The #VansCheckerboardDay TikTok Challenge will share inspiring community projects, ways to wear checkerboard print and tips on how to join the celebration through Vans ambassadors.
• DONATIONS: In addition to the $1 million in support of charities, fans around the world will also have the opportunity to support charities directly. They can do so through the Vans Family app by donating loyalty points in exchange for a monetary donation. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to The Vans Checkerboard Fund at Tides Foundation.
• En España, se realizarán actividades presenciales en tres puntos estratégicos de la península vinculados al arte y al skate. En Barcelona, la acción tendrá lugar a partir de las 16h en el Picnic DIY (Carrer de Carmen Amaya, 16) con la colaboración de la escuela de skate Al Carrer. Los fans podrán hacer construcciones en el skatepark para revitalizarlo y asistir a workshops de reparación. Además, el artista Iván Rodríguez Daba hará un live painting. En Madrid se celebrará en el skatepark Escombro DIY (Av. de los Poblados, 15) y las actividades comenzarán a las 15h. Skate, comunidad, unión y el arte de Andrea Pancaldi en directo. Por último, en Bilbao, la escuela de skate Guretxoko (Deustuibarra, 70, D Bajo) acogerá diversas actividades como una jam session; talleres creativos de customización de camisetas y de tablas junto a la asociación deportiva EGBA para personas en peligro de exclusión social y Haszten Tirol, que impulsa la iniciación deportiva de niños con diversidad funcional. Además, también colaboran con la escuela de arte del barrio, Kunsthal, realizando un mural conjunto y así ayudar a revitalizar la zona.
• In Spain, face-to-face activities will take place in three strategic points of the peninsula linked to art and skateboarding. In Barcelona, the action will take place from 4pm at Picnic DIY (Carrer de Carmen Amaya, 16) with the collaboration of the Al Carrer skate school. Fans will be able to make constructions in the skatepark to revitalize it and attend repair workshops. In addition, artist Iván Rodríguez Daba will do a live painting. In Madrid it will be held at the Escombro DIY skatepark (Av. de los Poblados, 15) and the activities will start at 3pm. Skate, community, union and the art of Andrea Pancaldi live. Finally, in Bilbao, the Guretxoko skate school (Deustuibarra, 70, D Bajo) will host various activities such as a jam session; creative workshops on customising T-shirts and boards together with the EGBA sports association for people at risk of social exclusion and Haszten Tirol, which promotes sports initiation for children with functional diversity. In addition, they also collaborate with the neighbourhood art school, Kunsthal, creating a joint mural and thus helping to revitalise the area.

As the brand’s largest philanthropic initiative, Vans will support sixteen charities around the world this year. The goal is to share the mission of revitalising public spaces through art, sport, culture and social impact programming by collectively donating $1 million. This year’s beneficiaries are:

• Hackney Bumps
• Juju Surf Club
• Indigo Youth Movement
• Girls in Film
• Jukebox Collective
• GoodPush
• Groundswell
• Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii
• Colectivo Tomate
• Nations Skate Youth
• Dignity for Children
• Another Way of Seeing
• ArtDream
• Skateboard Academy
• The Hub
• DoSomething

Since its inception in 2019, Vans Checkerboard Day has helped raise more than $2 million for non-profit organisations around the world. In doing so, it supports creativity, mental wellness and community engagement. Vans Checkerboard Day is held annually to bring to life the Vans ethos of celebrating creative expression worldwide, bringing together internal stakeholders; the extended Vans family and global consumers to come together around the world to discover why creativity matters as well as fund charities focused on elevating it.