The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) is one of the United Kingdom's leading institutions for the performing arts. The LIPA which opened in 1996 is co-founded by Lead Patron Sir Paul McCartney and Mark Featherstone-Witty (LIPA's Principal), and is housed in his old school, which underwent a multi-million pound renovation to transform it into a state-of-the-art performing arts higher education institution.
Today LIPA is an acknowledged part of the UK's higher education provision for the performing arts, recognised and ranked alongside institutions a lot older. LIPA provides learning for the main skills needed for putting on a show (performers and those who make performance possible), uniquely blending specialist and generic skills.