George Martin, a supporter of Mark’s approach to performing arts education and instrumental in the development of The BRIT School, was contacted by Paul and introduced Mark to Paul. The two men brought different but symbiotic aspirations to the project: Paul wanting the building restored, Mark wanting to pioneer a new approach to performing arts education. It took seven difficult years of planning, fundraising and building to get the project off the ground. It wasn’t easy, but then, as Paul reminded Mark from time to time, “If it was easy, everyone would be doing it”.
The next coincidence was Liverpool City Council, which was wondering how the city might build upon its reputation as a music city. Pete
Fulwell, then managing the Liverpool band The Christians, was commissioned to report on how this could be done. Pete looked to Mark to input the training element of the ‘Music City’ report.
The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts officially opened its doors to students in January 1996. During his speech at the inauguration event, Paul wished his parents could have been alive to witness the event, while Mark hoped that, one day, students would experience the feelings he was experiencing then.
The building was officially opened by Her Majesty the Queen on the 7th June 1996.
We acquired The Liverpool School of Art (the first purpose built art school outside London), which needed to be refurbished and reimagined for our use.
We've also established The LIPA Learning Group, which encompasses our various activities: LIPA 4-19 (a weekend academy), The LIPA Primary School and The LIPA Sixth Form College. We are hopeful we will be able to start The LIPA High School in 2021. If this happens, youngsters will be able, if they want to, to progress through a coherent learning process from 4 to 24.
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A relationship which helped shape LIPA