Transforming Lives Through the Arts Across Northeast Ohio
At BudgetEase Bookkeeping, we’re honored to support organizations that make a meaningful, lasting impact in their communities. One of those partners is Center for Arts‑Inspired Learning (CAL), a nonprofit dedicated to transforming lives through the arts.
Led by Chief Executive Officer Emma Parker, CAL has built a model that blends creativity, education, and access—meeting students and communities where they are and opening doors through artistic expression.
A Creative Mission With Deep Community Roots
CAL’s work is rooted in two complementary areas. The first is its earned income programming, through which CAL teaching artists are booked into schools, libraries, houses of worship, and community spaces across Northeast Ohio. These trained teaching artists bring customized, arts‑integrated curriculum designed to support each organization’s goals while making learning engaging and accessible.
This approach laid the foundation for CAL’s reputation and continues to connect professional artists with meaningful community work.
Programs That Inspire Opportunity and Growth
In 2005, CAL expanded its reach with the launch of ArtWorks, a paid arts apprenticeship for high school students. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, ArtWorks has served thousands of students across the region.
ArtWorks is intentionally barrier‑free—there are no GPA requirements or prior arts experience needed. Students simply apply, choose a preferred co‑op, and commit to learning. Participants are placed in artist-led cohorts where they gain creative, professional, and life skills, while also being compensated for their time—reinforcing the value of both artistry and accountability.
CAL also operates Inspiration Through Music, a 30‑week program serving students in grades 3 through 12 who live in Cleveland or attend CMSD schools. Students receive donated, refurbished instruments to practice with, and by the end of the program, the instruments become theirs to keep. The program is 85% supported by the City of Cleveland and was founded through the vision of Councilman Kevin Conwell, whose passion for music education continues to shape its success.
Meeting Educational Needs Through the Arts
As education priorities shift, CAL adapts accordingly. Today, the organization is frequently called upon for arts‑based approaches to literacy, math, and social‑emotional learning.
Through hands‑on creative experiences—such as collaborative murals or movement‑based learning—students develop communication skills, self‑awareness, relationship‑building, and confidence. These programs seamlessly integrate essential academic and emotional competencies, allowing students to learn through collaboration and creativity rather than pressure.
Supporting the Mission Behind the Scenes
Following the retirement of a long‑tenured Director of Finance and a period of organizational transition, CAL recognized the need for streamlined, transparent financial systems that could support long‑term sustainability.
By partnering with BudgetEase Bookkeeping, CAL has been able to modernize its processes, increase financial visibility across leadership, and move confidently toward a more digital and collaborative future—allowing the team to stay focused on what they do best: inspiring students, uplifting artists, and strengthening communities through the arts.
