Last week, Community Foundation staff attended the ArtSpark Student Art Show at the Key West Art Center, where local high school students displayed and sold artwork created through the program. Families, friends, artists, and community members gathered to celebrate the students’ work and growth over the past year.

One student excitedly told her family, “I just sold a piece.”

That moment captured what ArtSpark is helping create: opportunities for young people to build confidence, develop creative skills, and feel connected to the broader community.

First funded through the Community Foundation’s In Paradise For Good Community Grants Program in 2024 and expanded again in 2025, ArtSpark provides visual arts education and mentorship for students who may not otherwise have access to these opportunities. The program began with students from Somerset Island Prep and has since expanded to include students from CFK Academy.

Through classes taught by professional local artists, students explore different artistic mediums and techniques while learning in a professional gallery environment. The program not only strengthens creative skills, but also helps students build relationships, confidence, and a sense of belonging.

Several students shared how the experience has impacted them personally. Participants described becoming more social, making new friends, feeling more connected to the community, and gaining something positive to look forward to each week. The program inspired one student to switch from homeschool to in-person school, and another student stepped into a leadership role this semester by teaching one of the classes himself.

The program also supports the local creative economy by compensating professional artists for their time as instructors and mentors.

ArtSpark exhibitions have also given students opportunities to sell their work and gain firsthand experience presenting artwork in a public gallery environment.

The program continues to grow thoughtfully as organizers work through challenges such as transportation and scheduling to expand access for more students. Additional support from the Women’s Club of Key West and the Arts Council of the Florida Keys helped fund this year’s program.

Programs like ArtSpark help preserve Key West’s creative culture while opening doors for young people to discover new talents, relationships, and possibilities for themselves.