Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts
 LIPA's main entrance, on Mount Street | |
| Established | 7 June 1996 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Paul McCartney Mark Featherstone-Witty |
| Location | , England 53°23′58.4″N 2°58′20.3″W / 53.399556°N 2.972306°W |
| Campus | Urban |
| Affiliations | |
| Website | www |
 | |
Building details | |
| General information | |
| Construction started | 1990 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | David Watkins – Brock Carmichael Architects[1] |
 | |
The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) is a performing arts higher education institution in Liverpool, founded by Paul McCartney and Mark Featherstone-Witty and opened in 1996.[2] It is a member of the Federation of Drama Schools.[3]
The Education Guardian has previously ranked LIPA No. 1 in the UK for several of its degree courses,[4][5] and it is regularly ranked as one of the top 10 specialist institutions.[6]
In September 2003, LIPA launched LIPA 4–19, a part-time performing arts academy for 4-to-19-year-olds. LIPA started its own primary free school in 2014 and its own sixth form free college in 2016 which are due to shut on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.[7]
History
[edit]Formation
[edit]LIPA was founded by Paul McCartney and Mark Featherstone-Witty. McCartney had known since 1985 that the building which had housed his old school, the Liverpool Institute High School for Boys, was becoming increasingly derelict after the school's closure and wished to find a productive use for it; Featherstone-Witty had set up the Brit School in London and was looking for an opportunity to open another school. McCartney and Featherstone-Witty were introduced to each other by record producer George Martin. The process of setting up the facility and the school took seven years and cost £20m.