The benefits of art instruction in schools are well known. Art promotes higher levels of critical thinking in young learners and helps them develop the confidence they need to succeed in other aspects of life. But not every student has access to art class.
 
That's where Art Road, a nonprofit that provides in-school art instruction to Detroit students, comes in. "When you're doing art, so much of your brain is firing," says Kimberly Holback, an Art Road instructor. "Students get excited…the effect of art on the brain is so invigorating."
 
Examples of this can be seen regularly in Art Road classes. In one instance, a young student studied two examples of Vincent van Gogh sunflowers and was able to see the subtle nuances between them, noting that one feels sad and another feels hopeful. In another classroom, a third grade boy became so passionate about the art he was doing that he joined the last-period art club, and drew all summer, further honing his talent.
 
Art Road is currently serving more than 1,200 students throughout the entire school year at three Detroit Public Schools: Edison Elementary School, Charles Wright Academy of Arts & Science, and Spain Elementary School. Each school is provided with special arts activity classes, supplies, and an instructor. The classes are single or multi-day sessions that introduce children to the work of artists, provide historical perspective, and bring the entire experience into focus with hands-on creative arts projects such as painting, drawing, sculpture, or mixed media.
 
Holback, who has worked with Art Road for four years, has seen growth in students who have been involved with the program for multiple years. She says that they are bolder and just step into projects. They are not only able to observe a piece's artistic attributes, such as color, detail, and surface aspects, but can often go further and intuitively connect with what the artist is trying to say.
 
Carol Hofgartner, executive director of Art Road, says that it is this kind of higher-level learning and critical thinking that can turn young artists into good problem solvers. In fact, children that participate in arts programs have shown an increased love of learning that prepares them for the workplace of tomorrow. Educators and parents are becoming more conscious of art's relevance too, as evidenced by the addition of "A" to the STEM acronym, evolving into STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math.
 
Greg Ruvolo, community relations manager for Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, likes what he sees with the Art Road program and the growing recognition that art is an important part of a well-rounded education. "We are pleased to see an overall renewed interest in art as a vital aspect of a child's development and hope this will help organizations like Art Road continue to grow…developing creators and innovators of the future," he says.
 
Earlier this fall, Art Road teamed up with Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, a company with a global portfolio of $75 billion, to celebrate at the "Experiencing Perspectives" art exhibition at Mercedes-Benz Financial Services' Americas region headquarters in Farmington Hills.
 
An "Art Is Life" canvas painted by Art Road students served as a backdrop for the exhibition, which also featured student work describing what art class means to them.
 
While the Oct. 29 art exhibition was for employees and an additional 250 guests, Art Road students took a field trip to Mercedes-Benz Financial Services on Nov. 20 to see their work on display, watch an educational video about famous artists, and talk about their work. Students received personal recognition certificates and had lunch.
 
Along with its partnership with Art Road, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services also collaborates with Cranbrook Academy of Art to display cutting-edge pieces from the academy's graduate art program in the building's lobby, hallways, and conference rooms. The Cranbrook artists' work will be on display throughout the year, alongside Art Road student work, which is prominently exhibited on company walls. 
 
YuTung Hou, a Cranbrook Academy of Art graduate student and Art Road instructor, appreciates how art can also help a young person's self-esteem. "Students can be reserved and hold back from things they don't understand, but art helps them get involved in things that they're not sure about," says Hou. "It helps them form their identity, be confident with themselves—not just in art, but in life."
 
The mindset at Mercedes-Benz Financial Services recognizes that alliance between art and life – and especially between art and the workplace. Peter Zieringer, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, noted this connection at the "Experiencing Perspectives" reception: "These beautiful pieces of art in this building create a certain dynamic for employees. They're thought provoking…they help us look beyond the obvious."
 
For Art Road students, looking beyond the obvious, solving problems and being inspired are all examples of the way art fosters creativity.
 
This story originally ran in Metromode. This story is part of a series of solutions-focused features and profiles about the programs and people that are positively impacting the lives of Michigan kids. The series is produced by Michigan Nightlight and is made possible with funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Read the previous story in this series here.