The United Palace of Cultural Arts (UPCA) is a nonprofit community organization that produces progressive artistic and educational programming to uplift and enlighten children, adults, and families. Their mission is to strengthen the mind and spirit through creative expression and play. 

UPCA is a hub for imagination. Their offerings include mentor-driven classes, community events, and immersive movie experiences alongside a unique fusion of music, dance, spoken word, and other live performances. They both nurture emerging talent and bring the world to Washington Heights. Creative expression is their heart and soul—and reflects their belief in the profound power of the arts to transcend differences and build human connection. 

UPCA was founded in 2012 as an arts and cultural center at the United Palace, a transformational organization and venue that fuses culture, spirituality, and entertainment in Manhattan's 4th largest theatre.

Play & Beyond is a flexible and informal service for parents and caregivers who believe that play and creativity can do wonders for their little ones and help them thrive.

The Mommy & Me Program aims at developing defined learning skills, each being extremely easy to reproduce at home. Toddlers develop specific milestones such as emotional expression, self-esteem, body awareness, independence, social interaction, physical development, and creativity through learning skills like communication, gross and fine motor skills, problem solving, coordination and balance, etc.

Wonders of Play (ages 1-2 years)is a play-based class in which each session is a different experience. Toddlers engage in storytelling, imaginative play, music, arts, sensory activities, movement, games, and more.

The Joys of Movement (ages 2-3 years) class involves creative movement based on the play-based learning philosophy; toddlers have lots of fun while enjoying the freedom of physical activity.

Art classes at Mills Pond Gallery are available for ages 5-16. The program offers small class sizes and certified instructors and stresses fine art technique, creativity, and fun. Children are encouraged to stretch their imaginations, learn new skills, or expand what they already know. Classes are noncompetitive, affordable, and fun, and no prior art experience is required.

Unleash the creative talents of your children. By taking art classes, children gain tools for teamwork, problem solving, communicating, and more to help them develop their abilities in every area of interest. What kids learn from their art experience will be woven into their future lives. Art can open their eyes to new ways of seeing and help them to interpret these crazy times we live in.

You're never too big or small to have a blast at Catalyst Art Studio! Check out the website to view a calendar of upcoming events. Here are some of the fun activites they have to offer:

• Mommy/Adult and Me Painting Party (1st/2nd Sunday of the month)
• Kids' Drop-Off Class (3rd/4th Sunday of the month)
• Birthday parties (child or adult)
• Adult paint nights
• Fundraisers
• Summer/school break camps
• After-school art classes

Brooklyn Game Lab has three after-school programs for kids ages 7-14:

Tabletop Lab offers modern board game play that develops kids' analytic, strategic, creative, and presentation skills.

Masterminds Lab presents timeless games like Backgammon, Mahjong, and Go as well as Mensa Select games. Plus, Brooklyn Game Lab has one of the coolest chess programs around—where kids create and play-test their own original chess pieces!

Quest Lab combines classic role playing games (aka RPG/D&D) and live-action role playing games into one awesome program featuring exciting campaigns, memorable characters, cool weapons, and indoor and outdoor play.

Labs run for a 5-month semester. Please visit the website for a full schedule. Sign up for more than one day per week and receive a discount. Kids in all Labs earn merit badges for awesome game design, clever tactics, teamwork, and more.

Inspired by Zoe's mission and priority is to inspire children to express themselves through D.I.Y. arts and crafts. Arts and crafts have a great significance in children's academic performance, social development, and cultural and leadership skills. Insipired by Zoe's art classes are set up to influence all of these skills and impact children of all ages. They also offer Open Craft and Play; they provide crafters with a craft menu that includes many options, from tie-dye to clay molding to customized candles. During class, crafters enjoy building 3-D objects, stitching, sculpting, painting, and so much more. The studio leaves a great impact on crafters, some of whom struggle to express themselves in and outside of the classroom. Inspired by Zoe has received a signifacant amount of feedback on the improvement of crafters from their families. Inspired By Zoe's purpose is to inspire all.

Dirk Heidemann Studio of Ballroom Dance is a specialized dance studio run by Dirk Heidemann, who is considered to be one of the best ballroom dance coaches in the world. He is waiting to help your kids enjoy and improve in the magical world of dancing.