Free Summer Art Program Inspires Creativity in Cathedral City Kids

As schools across the country continue to scale back art programs, educators and community leaders say creative classes remain an important tool for helping students succeed both academically and socially.

Now, a new free summer program in Cathedral City is giving local children an opportunity to explore their artistic side.

The Paint With Pace program, hosted at the Cathedral City Library, offers hands-on art activities designed to encourage creativity, confidence and problem-solving skills.

Participants recently created tic-tac-toe boards using painted rocks and other craft materials while learning about artistic expression and design.

Members of the Cathedral City Parks and Community Events Commission partnered with the Desert Recreation District to fund and operate the program.

Organizers say the goal is to provide children with opportunities to unplug from screens, use their imagination and engage in hands-on learning experiences.

Parents say programs like these are becoming increasingly valuable as art education opportunities become less common in many schools.

In addition to art projects, children participating in the program also received free books to take home.

The response has been so positive that organizers say they are already considering bringing the Paint With Pace program back next summer.

For organizers, the biggest measure of success has been simple: making sure kids are having fun while learning something new.