Art in the Garden provides exposure to the arts at an early age.

By Krysia Wazny

Art in the Garden has been bringing the children of Somerville closer to their culture for years. This week the program returns, featuring the same quality of care and education enhanced with a few changes.

From Georgia O’Keefe in the first week to Andy Goldsworthy in the fourth, the program will explore many different artistic mediums and types of art. Program coordinator Kate Jorgenson spoke about the advantages she believes children gain through contact with serious art at an early age. “It is important that they have exposure to their culture and history,” she said, “Learning those things through the arts can be easier, especially for visual learners.”

This year’s Art in the Garden program also delves further into different forms of art. “My goal is to not only include visual arts, but also theater, musical, and dance arts,” Jorgenson stated. In the second week, children will learn about the timeless art of storytelling and will perform their own stories. The program culminates in a talent show in the last week, which will showcase each child’s creativity.

The program is operated through the Somerville Arts Council and takes place at the Community Growing Center on Vinal Avenue near Union Square. The Growing Center hosts several programs for children throughout the year, focusing upon education in nature and culture.

Art in the Garden will also feature gardening activities. During this first week, representatives from the Truck Farm Organization will come to the garden to speak about urban gardening and the advantages of using local fruits and vegetables.

Though changes have been made to the program this summer, it has maintained its tradition of providing enriching care for lower income families. Due to a decrease in funding, an income-based sliding pay scale has been instituted. This scale keeps the program affordable and brings other benefits to participants.

To accommodate working families, the day now runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and includes a breakfast and lunch. Four field trips to the MFA, the Harvard Museum of Natural History, the Arnold Arboretum, and the ICA have also been added, enhancing the children’s overall learning experience.

The opportunity to participate in Art in the Garden is quickly slipping away. The first and fifth weeks are already full, but as of last week, spots in other weeks were still open. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 are welcome to register through the Somerville Arts Council, and parents are invited to drop in anytime. For more information about this exciting program that combines art, nature, and the best of Boston, go to somervilleartscouncil.org.