MADISON, Wis. – A decades-long program helps children across Madison get arts education while school is out for the summer.

Art Cart is a partnership between Madison School & Community Recreation and the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. Every week, staff bring a specific project to a park for children to work on together. It’s free and open to just about anyone.

Every year, the Art Cart crew sets up to paint “The Shoe” in Vilas Park with kids. The big sculpture is hollow with a staircase inside and slide to get out. It’s based on “The Little Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe” nursery rhyme.

“It’s been in the park for over 48 years now. It’s Art Cart’s 48th year,” said Izzi Koele, an Art Cart instructor. “We’ve been painting it for 48 years, so we’re super excited to have it here.”

Experts from the Art Education Partnership said the arts help kids learn important life skills. Instead of having correct or incorrect answers, students practice, try new things and learn to take constructive criticism.

“We go all over Madison, and our goal is basically to bring equitable art programs to all of Madison, and make sure everyone has a chance to do some art this summer,” Koele said.

One study from the Journal of Primary Prevention found that students who live in lower-income areas had more confidence and self-esteem if they participated in art programs. Koele has seen that firsthand.

“We just had a group actually last week in the Galaxy Park area,” they said. “It’s in a lower socioeconomic area, and the kids were so ecstatic to not just work with us, but to be out with their friends and get a chance to do something creative together.”

The effort is to ensure children can get arts education year-round because the impact can stick with them for a lifetime.

To check out the Art Cart schedule for this summer, click here.