Published: Jun 01, 2012
Sir Paul McCartney has paid a special visit to Liverpool to view the former art college that John Lennon attended which has now been bought by LIPA.
Sir Paul and LIPA BA (Hons) Acting graduate Liz White, who recently starred alongside Daniel Radcliffe in the critically acclaimed The Woman in Black, were shown around the newly acquired building by LIPA CEO and co-founder Mark Featherstone-Witty.
LIPA recently completed the purchase of the former Liverpool College of Art building, which is steeped in Beatles history. In the 1950s, not only Lennon but also his future wife Cynthia and The Beatles’ original bassist Stuart Sutcliffe studied there. The main LIPA building is housed in Sir Paul and George Harrison’s old grammar school, The Liverpool Institute for Boys.
Sir Paul said: “As well as reuniting two landmark Liverpool buildings, I'm glad that this also brings back together George, John and myself. Aside from being a building we brought back from the brink, LIPA is now contributing as Mark and I dreamed all those years ago.”
The £3.7m acquisition will provide LIPA with over 5,000 square metres of additional teaching space in the impressive Grade II listed property which is adjacent to the main LIPA building, in the city’s Georgian quarter.
Sir Paul was in Liverpool making one of his regular visits to LIPA to mentor graduating singer-songwriters. While at LIPA he also took part in an exclusive Q and A session with LIPA students.
The investment in new facilities is an important step and one which not only complements LIPA’s existing offering but also secures its future growth and development to remain at the forefront of performing arts institutions.