“When you’re homeless, you have to be creative to survive. I’m thankful for a place to exercise my craft. Our Artist Collective gives me hope and an opportunity to be who I am.”
-Daybreak Artist, Kateri
Our Programs
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Our East Nashville studio and gallery provides a safe, professional space where artists impacted by homelessness and housing insecurity can create, connect, store, and showcase their work through exhibitions and community events.
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Daybreak Arts provides free supplies, equipment, and studio tools across disciplines, removing barriers so artists in our Collective can create and explore their work.
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Our workshops and field experiences give artists hands-on training, exposure to new mediums, connections with the arts community, and opportunities for entrepreneurial growth and professional development.
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Daybreak Arts helps artists build portfolios, exhibit locally and online, access diverse income opportunities, and earn the majority of sales and commissions, supporting both their creative growth and financial independence.
Ways to support Daybreak Arts in 2025:
Shop Original Art
We have a rich collection of diverse works, mediums, and price points from which to choose. Each artwork and reproduction purchase empowers our artists with the income, resources, and confidence to keep creating.
Start your Daybreak art collection today!
Make a Donation
Your donation provides artists experiencing housing insecurity with art supplies, space, education, and platform to increase their economic mobility, artistic expression, skill development, community integration, and personal fulfillment.
Make a tax-deducible donation this holiday season to support creativity!
Volunteer With Us
Our volunteers help us keep our studio & gallery running and allow us to make a big impact with a small staff. Daybreak offers several types of virtual and in-person opportunities to get involved.
Email volunteer@daybreakarts.org to join our next Volunteer Orientation.
Invest in Unhoused and Housing Insecure Artists Today!
When you shop and gift original artwork, you provide direct financial support to the artists who create the work. 70% of your artwork purchase goes directly to the artist. Last year, our customers provided Daybreak Artists with thousands of dollars of meaningful income which allowed them invest into their housing, mental health, and building their career and savings.
Artist Spotlight: Edwin Lockridge
Congratulations to our artist, Edwin Lockridge, who was selected to have his artwork featured on the Nashville Sign billboard as "Artist of the Week" through our collaboration with the Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville!
The Nashville Sign boasts a truly unique position as the anchor of the 13-lane intersection of Broadway, West End Avenue, and 16th Avenue. This well-known intersection is one of the busiest in the state and is used by residents, tourists, and all forms of city transportation.
View more of Edwin's original pieces at https://daybreakarts.org/shop-by-category/edwin-lockridge
We know that choosing the right gift can be tricky, so we're ready to help!
Contact our Studio & Exhibitions Manager today for a free consultation and gallery viewing where she’ll share insights to select the perfectly unique gift.
“Daybreak Arts gives each artist not just the income that comes from selling our work, but the value of knowing someone wanted and valued our work. That gives us an amazing amount of self-esteem which is incredibly important when your art tends to get dismissed.”
— Daybreak Artist, BANDY
Surprise an art lover in your life with a Daybreak gift card!
The perfect gift for anyone looking to decorate their home or office.
Pivotal Partners
Nashville Living Wage
Social Enterprise Alliance Nashville
Dickerson Road Merchants Association
Center for Nonprofit Management
Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville
Pastel on paper, framed with matboard
2025