# Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts

> university in Liverpool, UK

**Wikidata**: [Q1668871](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1668871)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liverpool_Institute_for_Performing_Arts)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/liverpool-institute-for-performing-arts

## Summary

The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts was founded on August 1, 1996. This establishment is recognized as a charitable organization. As a charitable organization, it operates with a specific legal status.The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts has a notable number of employees, with 142 employees reported in 2016.It operates as part of the educational sector, providing services related to its mission. 
The institute continues to function within its designated legal form.

## Summary
The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) is a higher education institution in Liverpool, UK, founded in 1996. It specializes in performing arts education and is a charitable organization with charitable commission number 1001565.

## Key Facts
- Founded on August 1, 1996, by Mark Featherstone-Witty and Sir Paul McCartney
- Located at Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, Mount Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 9HF
- Coordinates: 53.399573° N, -2.972306° W
- Revenue grew from £10,839,092 in 2016 to £15,039,194 in 2025
- Employs 157 staff as of 2025
- Member of Jisc and University and College Union
- Has 18,895 social media followers on Twitter as of February 2023
- ISNI: 0000 0000 8753 4750
- ROR ID: 0371kdw96
- Grid ID: grid.451001.1

## FAQs
### Q: What is the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts known for?
A: LIPA is known for being a specialist performing arts higher education institution founded by Sir Paul McCartney and Mark Featherstone-Witty in 1996. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs in various performing arts disciplines.

### Q: Where is LIPA located?
A: LIPA is located in Liverpool, UK, at Mount Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 9HF. The institution is situated in the historic Liverpool Institute building.

### Q: Is LIPA a university?
A: LIPA is classified as a university and higher education institution, though it specializes specifically in performing arts education rather than offering a full range of academic disciplines.

## Why It Matters
The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts represents a unique model in higher education, combining artistic excellence with practical industry training. Founded through the vision of Sir Paul McCartney and Mark Featherstone-Witty, LIPA has become a significant contributor to the UK's performing arts education landscape. The institution bridges the gap between academic learning and professional practice, preparing students for careers in the competitive entertainment industry. Its charitable status and focus on accessibility make it an important cultural asset for Liverpool and the broader UK arts community. LIPA's growth in revenue and student numbers demonstrates its increasing influence and the demand for specialized performing arts education in the modern economy.

## Notable For
- Founded by music legend Sir Paul McCartney and educational entrepreneur Mark Featherstone-Witty
- Located in the historic Liverpool Institute building, preserving cultural heritage
- Specializes exclusively in performing arts education at higher education level
- Maintains strong industry connections and practical training focus
- Has shown consistent financial growth from £10.8M in 2016 to £15M in 2025

## Body
### History and Foundation
The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts was established on August 1, 1996, through a partnership between Mark Featherstone-Witty and Sir Paul McCartney. The institution was created to provide specialized performing arts education and is housed in the historic Liverpool Institute building, which has been preserved and adapted for modern educational use.

### Academic Structure
LIPA operates as a higher education institution offering undergraduate and postgraduate programs in various performing arts disciplines. The institution is classified as both a university and a higher education institution, with additional categorization as an educational organization and charitable organization.

### Financial Performance
The institution has demonstrated consistent financial growth over recent years. Revenue increased from £10,839,092 in 2016 to £15,039,194 in 2025. The organization also receives donations, though these have decreased from £118,333 in 2018 to £5,807 in 2025.

### Staff and Operations
LIPA employs 157 staff members as of 2025, up from 142 in 2016. The institution maintains active memberships in professional organizations including Jisc and the University and College Union, indicating its engagement with broader educational networks.

### Digital Presence
The institution maintains an active online presence with the website www.lipa.ac.uk, social media accounts including Twitter (@LIPALiverpool) with 18,895 followers, and a YouTube channel. The organization's digital footprint includes multiple platforms and consistent engagement with its audience.

### Location and Facilities
Situated in Liverpool, Merseyside, LIPA occupies a significant cultural location. The institution's coordinates are 53.399573° N, -2.972306° W, placing it in the heart of Liverpool's cultural district. The postal address is Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, Mount Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 9HF.

### Governance and Recognition
LIPA operates as a charitable organization with Charity Commission number 1001565. The institution holds various identifiers including ISNI, ROR ID, and Grid ID, demonstrating its formal recognition within academic and research communities. It is also recognized by multiple ranking systems and has a presence in international academic databases.

## References

1. Open ISNI for Organizations
2. [Source](https://www.jisc.ac.uk/membership)
3. [Source](https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/13538/UCU-branches-in-JNCHES-2024-25)
4. ROR release v1.19
5. Google Maps
6. Google Knowledge Graph
7. MusicBrainz
8. Charity Commission Register of Charities
9. BBC Things
10. [Source](https://twitter.com/search?q=Liverpool+Institute+for+Performing+Arts&src=typd)
11. [Source](http://www.lipa.ac.uk/)
12. [Source](https://lipa.ac.uk/)
13. GRID Release 2015-12-14
14. GRID Release 2016-12-06
15. Quora
16. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
17. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
18. YouTube API