# Art program teaches skills beyond drawing

> Professional artists help Nashville students develop problem-solving skills through art.
- Title: Art program teaches skills beyond drawing · Valleynewslive
- Summary: Professional artists help Nashville students develop problem-solving skills through art. Nashville elementary students learn critical thinking and emotional…
- Keywords: schwab elementary, daybreak arts, pencil, gigi creative corner, nashville, art program, critical thinking, emotional skills, news, local, Art, program
- Source: Valleynewslive — https://valleynewslive.com/2026/09/21/education-program-uses-art-teach-skills-beyond-drawing
- Published: 2026-09-21T12:19:43.863+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: schwab elementary, daybreak arts, pencil, gigi creative corner, nashville, art program, critical thinking, emotional skills, news, local
## Art program starts
Schwab elementary students get weekly art lessons from professional artists.

> It made what i was doing special to me
## Artist background
Helen stackhouse, 79, paints under name a.m. hassan after homelessness.

> To show people what i was seeing or the ideas that were running around in my head
## Program details
Gigi’s creative corner is a 10-week art initiative for third graders.

> It’s always something new
## Student engagement
Students show sketchbooks every monday to share weekend art projects.

> They really look forwards to that special time of the week
## Skill development
Students learn problem-solving and critical thinking through art.

> I think that just has a huge impact in a child’s early developmental stages
## Future plans
Program will expand to other nashville schools by summer.

> We’re really lucky to have daybreak here with us
## Key takeaway

Nashville elementary students learn critical thinking and emotional skills via weekly art sessions led by artists with housing instability experience.