Julie Jacobs, founder of the Art Beat Center for the Arts, maintains that her art lessons are not simply arts and craft sessions. Julie Jacobs does much more than provide the children with piles of paper and supplies of paint. Her approach to teaching children about art encourages them to work through their creations step by step.

Creating art teaches children to hold an idea in their head while they work at the problem of how it's constructed. Conclusion? Kids who take art lessons do better in all subjects, from reading to math and Julie Jacobs takes this to heart.

The center offers a variety of mediums, including ceramics, painting, drawing, performing arts, textiles, and sculpture, and it's clear that the children take full advantage of the options in crating their work.

For more information on Julie Jacobs' Art Beat Center for the Arts, call 818-784-4ART or visit www.artbeat.bz