City Cast Madison logo
Advertisement image
November 5, 2025

Wisconsin Educators Are Improvising Amid Lackluster Arts Funding

City Cast Madison

Wisconsin Educators Are Improvising Amid Lackluster Arts Funding

00:00:00
View all City Cast Madison episodes

Wisconsin ranks next-to-last in the nation when it comes to arts funding, spending about 18 cents per person, according to the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies. So what gives? And what are our state’s children missing out on when they don’t have access to creative outlets in school? Erica Halverson, professor of curriculum and instruction at UW-Madison’s School of Education, is trying to make arts more accessible in Madison schools. As the co-founder of a program called Whoopensocker, she’s bringing innovative storytelling techniques to classrooms across the state. Today, host Bianca Martin chats with Erica to find out what’s in store for the future of arts education in Wisconsin.

👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram

📧 You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. 

🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program!

Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this November 5th episode:

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Hey Madison

Sign up for your free daily toolkit to get the most of the city you love.

Can't subscribe? Turn off your ad blocker and try again.

Latest Episodes

See all
April 17

Extreme Weather, UW Athletics Shakeup, and Olbrich's Expansion Contested

Madison was just hammered by extreme weather — flooding, high winds, hail the size of baseballs, and possibly (maybe) even a tornado?! Ho...

City Cast Madison podcast episode art
April 16

The Neighborhood Bars That Hold Madison Together

Madison has no shortage of cocktail bars and dives to satisfy your need to imbibe. But there’s something extra special about those neighb...

City Cast Madison podcast episode art
April 15

How Isthmus Keeps It Real, 50 Years In

Longevity in the media industry is hard to come by. Longevity for a local alternative weekly is an even tougher task. But Isthmus has man...

City Cast Madison podcast episode art
April 14

How Safe Are Our Streets?

How safe are Madison’s streets? After several high profile crashes this year, including one that resulted in the death of a 17-year-old h...

City Cast Madison podcast episode art
April 13

Earth Day’s Wisconsin Connection

Did you know we wouldn’t have Earth Day if it wasn’t for the efforts of a Wisconsin senator? And that’s not all. The UW-Madison has been...

City Cast Madison podcast episode art
April 12

'Your City Could Be Better': Why Portland’s Considering Hiring a Night Mayor  — Presented By City Cast Madison

Madisonians, what do you do when your night life starts to dwindle? Nightlife is a huge economic driver for cities, but city offices are...

City Cast Madison podcast episode art
April 10

UW System President Ousted, Men's Shelter Update, and Another Round For Essen Haus

This week, the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents voted to fire its president, Jay Rothman. The regents say this has been a long...

City Cast Madison podcast episode art
April 9

What’s New in Madison’s Restaurant Scene This Spring

From Ba Lao to Friends Applaud, there are so many new restaurants in the Madison area to check out this spring. In her recent Cap Times...

City Cast Madison podcast episode art
April 8

2026 Wisconsin Spring Election Results

Last night’s election results are in! More than 50% of registered voters in Dane County turned out to the polls, and it was a good night...

City Cast Madison podcast episode art
April 7

It’s Time to Vote! Plus, Get Psyched for Summer Sports, and RIP Tone Madison

Happy Election Day, Madison! We’re wrapping up our election primers today with a breakdown of the contested Madison City Council races. P...

City Cast Madison podcast episode art