SPARK

SPARK NYC's BEST and ONLY art, yoga, meditation and nature program for kids. Ten years and going strong! Visit our beautiful studio on the UWS.

Spark is an art, yoga, meditation and nature program designed to foster the create spark in all children.

10 years in the making…What started as a small part of Spark helping a few students build art portfolios has grown into ...
05/01/2026

10 years in the making…

What started as a small part of Spark helping a few students build art portfolios has grown into one of the most meaningful parts of what we do.

Guiding young artists.
Watching their confidence grow.
Seeing their work evolve.

And celebrating those moments when they get accepted into NYC’s top art high schools.

Today, we’re proud to share that this work now has its own home.

Spark Portfolio Prep is officially live.

A space built for families who are ready to take this journey seriously with clarity, structure, and real artistic guidance every step of the way.

We’re beyond grateful for every student and parent who has trusted us over the past decade.

This is just the beginning of the next chapter.

✨ Start with a Portfolio Review
🔗 sparkportfolioprep.nyc

CreativeKids

Happy Launch Day! We’ve been waiting to share this with you.After 10 years of helping NYC families navigate the art high...
05/01/2026

Happy Launch Day!

We’ve been waiting to share this with you.

After 10 years of helping NYC families navigate the art high school admissions process,
Spark Portfolio Prep now has its own home.

For years, this program lived inside Spark through after school classes, camps, and conversations with parents. And while so many families found us that way, the truth is… this work has grown into something deeper, more focused, and incredibly impactful.

Helping a child go from “I like to draw” to creating a portfolio that gets them into schools like LaGuardia, Art & Design, and Frank Sinatra … that’s a journey. And it deserves its own space.

So I built one.

The new site is designed to give families clarity: what schools are looking for, where your child stands, and exactly how to move forward. If you’ve been thinking about art high schools, or wondering what the process even looks like … this is where it begins.

✨ Start with a Portfolio Review
✨ Get a clear roadmap
✨ Build a portfolio that truly stands out with our various Portfolio Prep Options : In Studio Program, Private Classes in Home or our Camp Intensive!

We’re beyond excited to finally share this with our NYC community.

👉 Visit: https://sparkportfolioprep.nyc

As always, thank you for trusting us with your kids these are truly some of our favorite journeys to be a part of.

Always grateful,

Sebastian

After 10 years helping NYC families navigate one of the most competitive admissions processes in the city, Spark Portfol...
04/28/2026

After 10 years helping NYC families navigate one of the most competitive admissions processes in the city, Spark Portfolio Prep now has its own home.

What began as a passion project helping young artists build standout portfolios has grown into a decade of guidance, mentorship, and acceptance letters to NYC’s top art high schools.

This week, we reveal our new identity, our new website, and the next chapter of Spark Portfolio Prep.

Built on a decade of working with young artists and helping families navigate the admissions process with clarity.

Official launch this Friday.

We’re excited to announce that Spark is coming to (Alpha School) of NYC this spring.In just a few weeks, I will be laun...
04/10/2026

We’re excited to announce that Spark is coming to (Alpha School) of NYC this spring.

In just a few weeks, I will be launching a 7-week art enrichment program designed to give children something deeper than just an afterschool activity, a space to create, think, and express with confidence.

This one is personal. I’ll be starting and finishing the program myself, working directly with the students to set the tone, build trust, and push their creative boundaries. Alongside me will be our Lead Portfolio Teacher, Mr. Casey , whose experience guiding young artists brings an incredible level of depth and intention to the work.

What makes this partnership special is alignment.

We share a belief that children deserve agency, the ability to make choices, take risks, and develop their own voice through art. Not just step-by-step project, but real creative exploration.

At Spark, we don’t just teach art. We empower kids to think like artists, to observe, interpret, and create with purpose while building up their confidence. After visiting this beautiful location today, I am excited to showcase what we were all about.

Looking forward to bringing our energy into Alpha and building something meaningful together. If you’re part of the Alpha community, we can’t wait to meet you!

Winter Break Camp - 10 days away! Join us for a cozy, creative Winter Break filled with art, imagination, and mindful fu...
02/06/2026

Winter Break Camp - 10 days away!

Join us for a cozy, creative Winter Break filled with art, imagination, and mindful fun. Each day, campers will explore hands-on art projects inspired by the season, nature, and playful materials—balancing focused making with movement, reflection, and joy. It’s a warm, welcoming space for kids to create, connect, and recharge during the winter pause.

Regular Days & Extended Days available!
Full Week or Drop Ins!
Grab your spot now!

https://www.thespark.nyc/camps/

Happy Weekend! HOLIDAY weekend ! Few more spots left for our MLK Day Camp if you're not going away. Stay warm!https://ww...
01/16/2026

Happy Weekend!

HOLIDAY weekend ! Few more spots left for our MLK Day Camp if you're not going away. Stay warm!

https://www.thespark.nyc/camps/

Hello Success Academy Families,I’m so excited to share that **registration is now open for our Spark Nature Winter Semes...
12/30/2025

Hello Success Academy Families,

I’m so excited to share that **registration is now open for our Spark Nature Winter Semester**, and we can’t wait to build on the beautiful momentum we created together this Fall.

This past semester with Miss Kaya was truly special—watching the children settle into nature, creativity, and mindful movement week after week was a joy. Their confidence grew, their curiosity deepened, and they embraced the rhythm of being outdoors and off screens in a way that felt grounding and joyful.

This winter, Spark Nature continues with our signature formula:
winter nature exploration, hands-on art, meditation, and movement—intentionally designed to give kids time outside, space to breathe, and meaningful creative expression during the colder months. Even in winter, nature offers so much to notice, explore, and create from, and we lean into that magic fully.

Program details:

Pick-up directly from Success Academy
Two pick-up options: 4pm or extended care until 6:pm
All materials and supplies included
Daily dismissal from our **beautiful Spark studio on 72nd Street**

If you’re looking for a nurturing, screen-free after-school experience that supports creativity, emotional regulation, and movement—this is it.

You can learn more and register here:

👉 https://www.thespark.nyc/nyc-after-school-program

Spots are limited, and we expect this winter session to fill quickly. We would love to welcome both returning families and new ones into our Spark Nature community.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us—we’re so looking forward to another wonderful season together.

Last night was one of those moments that makes me pause and really take it all in.We gathered our incredible Spark teach...
12/20/2025

Last night was one of those moments that makes me pause and really take it all in.

We gathered our incredible Spark teaching team for a year-end holiday dinner — lots of laughter, insanely delicious food, shared plates, and stories from a year full of creativity, care, and connection.

I feel so deeply grateful for this group of humans. Each of you shows up week after week for children — across our afterschool programs, studios, privates , all our schools, forest schools , and all the many spaces Spark lives — with presence, patience, talent, and heart.

You meet kids exactly where they are and help lift them up through art, movement, mindfulness, and genuine relationship.

Spark only works because of the way this team shows up.
For the joy you bring into rooms, for the calm you offer in big feelings, for the creativity you spark in every child — thank you.

I’m beyond thankful to be building this work alongside you all.

✨🎨 We are LIVE! 🎨✨Introducing the Spark Sticker Shop — our newest way to celebrate children’s creativity AND support our...
12/02/2025

✨🎨 We are LIVE! 🎨✨

Introducing the Spark Sticker Shop — our newest way to celebrate children’s creativity AND support our non profit SPARK Arts Inc.

We’ve taken real artwork from Spark kids and turned it into beautiful stickers you can purchase to fund more art, yoga, meditation, and nature classes across NYC & PA.

And now, for the first time ever…

💛 You can submit your own child’s artwork to be considered for future stickers!

This project is joyful, meaningful, and accessible — a perfect way to support the arts this Giving Tuesday without needing to be a major donor. Truly, kids’ art supports kids’ art.
Take a look at the shop, explore our first sticker collection, and help us spread the word:

https://sparkstickershop.com/collections/all?filter.v.price.gte=&filter.v.price.lte=&sort_by=best-selling

Thank you for supporting our community and helping creativity grow.

Hello New York private school families! If you are in need of childcare for next week, we are hosting a three-day mini c...
11/21/2025

Hello New York private school families!

If you are in need of childcare for next week, we are hosting a three-day mini camp at our 72nd street studio Monday-Wednesday

https://www.thespark.nyc/camps/io

🔥Unleash Your Inner Dragon! 🔥Next Saturday, kids 10+ are invited to our Watercolor & Ink class to create DRAGON EYES! 🐉✨...
10/31/2025

🔥Unleash Your Inner Dragon! 🔥

Next Saturday, kids 10+ are invited to our Watercolor & Ink class to create DRAGON EYES! 🐉✨

We’ll explore bold colors, textures, and magical details to bring your dragon’s gaze to life. Perfect for aspiring artists ready to dive into imagination and fun taught by Spark Founder, Sebastian Alappat

🖌 When: Saturday November 8th
🎨 For ages: 10+
💥 $65 all supplies included

Come see the dragon in your artwork roar! 🐲💫

Register here---> https://www.thespark.nyc/nyc-after-school-program/

Address

162 W 72nd Street 5th Floor
New York, NY
10023

Opening Hours

Monday 3am - 5pm
Tuesday 3am - 5pm
Wednesday 3am - 5pm
Thursday 3am - 5pm
Friday 3am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 12pm
1pm - 3pm
Sunday 9am - 12pm
3pm - 5pm

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