Street Currency: Design your own sneakers!
- Event Date: Saturday, February 28, 2026
- Time: 11:00 am–3:00 pm (CST)
- Location: Hundley Central Core Gallery, Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory St., Urbana, IL
Sneakers or ‘kicks’ have a high status within hip hop culture. From shell toe Adidas to Airforce Ones, sneakers serve as street-credible currency. The right sneaker gains the wearer attention (views), recognition (social status), inclusion (access), and even envy (object of emulation). This street currency is used to influence hip hop’s aesthetic creativity while also helping to expand hip hop’s commercial and global reach.
Design, color, and assemble a paper replica of some ‘kicks’ that you associate with hip hop culture (in the US and abroad).
This program is presented as part of the Hip Hop Convene. The Hip hop convene is a celebration of hip hop’s legacy and future as a force for cultural innovation, social change, and community empowerment. More information can be found at the Krannert Center for Performing Arts: Hip Hop Convene (external link) event post.
Contact
For further information on this event, contact Monica M. Scott at monicams@illinois.edu (email link) or (217) 300-6213.
All participants are welcome. To request disability-related accommodations for this event, please contact Brian Cudiamat at cudiamat@illinois.edu (email link) or (217) 244-5586.