Pickering Inspire - Our Story Overview
On Friday, March 13, 2020, when the world shut down due to COVID-19, Michael Pickering — a musician, educator, and dad — felt compelled to do something to help families suddenly thrown into fear, isolation, and uncertainty. Music had saved Michael’s life decades earlier when his own family was unraveling during his pre-teen years, and he knew firsthand how grounding and healing the arts can be during times of crisis.
That night, he posted online offering free music lessons out of his home to any child who needed connection, support, or something positive to hold onto. Within a day, a dozen families signed up. Within weeks, it grew to 70 families.
What families responded to wasn’t polished recitals or technique — it was the relationship, the joy, the encouragement, and the emotional anchor the arts provided during a frightening time.
Seeing the overwhelming need for relationship-based arts education, Michael and Amy formed Pickering Academy, building on the spirit of generosity that started it all. They also created a “Pay What You Can” tuition model so that no child was turned away because of cost — including families who could not pay anything at all.
Over the past 5 years, the Pickerings have personally provided nearly $250,000 in free lessons, camps, classes, musical theatre productions, special needs programs, merchandise, events, and creative experiences to children and families who otherwise would have gone without.
By 2024, the financial need in the community had far surpassed what two individuals could sustainably support alone. To expand the reach of this work and invite others to be part of the mission, Michael founded Pickering Inspire, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, in October 2024.
In its first year, Pickering Inspire raised just over $10,000, demonstrating strong community belief in the vision. The goal is to triple this in year two, with much larger growth possible in future years as awareness increases. Many major arts funders in Colorado require nonprofits to be established for 3–5 years before eligibility, meaning Pickering Inspire is still in its early stages — doing high-impact work without access to major institutional support.
During this phase, community support and grassroots generosity are essential.
Pickering Inspire’s mission is:
To engage, inspire, and empower individuals and communities through the transformative power of music, theatre, and the arts — enriching lives through diverse educational programs, creative experiences, performances, and related initiatives.
Impact
Nearly $250,000 in free or reduced-cost arts experiences provided.
Serving families across:
financially disadvantaged households
diverse racial, cultural, and faith backgrounds
LGBTQ+ youth
families with children with disabilities or special needs
students experiencing grief, trauma, isolation, or instability
Programs supported through this mission include:
private lessons
group classes
musical theatre productions
Special Needs performing arts programs
summer and school-year camps
community performance opportunities
Who Benefits
Primarily children ages 3–18
Students with special needs and disabilities
Students who cannot otherwise afford performing arts education
Families in financial hardship, medical crisis, or emotional distress
Kids needing community, belonging, confidence, and a safe place to express themselves
Key Values
Joy
Access
Dignity
Community
Self-expression
Core belief: “Every child deserves to discover their voice.”
Current Partnerships & Growing Opportunities
Collaboration with the Cherry Creek School District on innovative after-school orchestra programs.
Engagement with Parker Arts for expanded community programming.
Increasing demand for scholarships and outreach programs across the region.
Why a Grant Matters
Directly funds scholarships, outreach, and free/low-cost programming.
Removes financial barriers for families in need.
Allows for expansion of inclusive, high-impact arts opportunities for children of all backgrounds.
Helps sustain programs families are relying on while the nonprofit works toward long-term grant eligibility.
Where to Learn More
https://pickeringacademy.com/inspire
https://pickeringacademy.com/about
To engage, inspire, and empower individuals and communities through the transformative power of music, theatre, and the arts — enriching lives through diverse educational programs, creative experiences, performances, and related initiatives.
Pickering Inspire was founded to ensure that every child—regardless of financial hardship, background, identity, or circumstance—has access to the transformative power of music, theatre, and the performing arts. The organization was born from the extraordinary grassroots efforts of Michael and Amy Pickering, who began offering free music lessons from their home during the COVID-19 pandemic to help families facing fear, isolation, and emotional strain.
As demand grew, they launched a “Pay What You Can” model through Pickering Academy, welcoming families who could contribute little or nothing at all. Over the next five years, the Pickerings personally provided nearly $250,000 in free and reduced-cost lessons, classes, camps, musical theatre productions, community programs, and special needs performing arts experiences.
Recognizing that the need far exceeded what two individuals could sustain, Michael established Pickering Inspire, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, in October 2024. Pickering Inspire now carries forward this mission by raising funds to expand access, provide scholarships, and ensure that no child is turned away from the performing arts because of financial barriers.
Today, Pickering Inspire serves a diverse and growing population of children ages 3–18, including students with disabilities, families experiencing medical or financial hardship, and youth seeking connection, confidence, and belonging. Through inclusive programming, community partnerships, and donor support, Pickering Inspire continues to open doors for families across the region—using the performing arts to build joy, resilience, and opportunity for every child.
Organization name
Pickering Inspire
2024
Tax id (EIN)
33-1635960
Category
Arts, Culture & Humanities
Organization Size
Small Organization
Address
6920 S JORDAN RD STE GArapahoe County, CO, US
Douglas County, CO, US
Aurora, CO, US
Centennial, CO, US
Parker, CO, US