The Crypt School has unveiled ambitious plans for a landmark Creative and Performing Arts Centre (CPAC) that could transform opportunities for young people while creating a new cultural hub for Gloucester.
Backed by significant early donations – including a £250,000 contribution from a former pupil – the £6 million campaign marks what headmaster Nick Dyer described as a 'bold new chapter' in the school's history.
Designed to serve both the school and the wider community, the proposed centre aims to widen access to arts and culture across Gloucester. Based in Podsmead, where opportunities to engage with creative activities can be limited, the venue would provide a welcoming space for local schools, community groups and residents to rehearse, perform, collaborate and connect.
For students, the development would also address long-standing limitations in the school's existing facilities. Despite The Crypt's strong reputation for music, drama and the arts, rehearsals and performances currently take place in classrooms, corridors and other shared spaces. The new centre would provide dedicated rehearsal, teaching and performance facilities designed to reflect professional practice and support the next generation of creative talent.
The school says the project comes at a time when arts education is under increasing pressure nationally, citing reduced funding, falling participation and widening inequalities in access.
Plans for the centre include a flexible 240-seat performance space, rehearsal and teaching rooms, together with professional-standard technical and recording facilities. The venue would host everything from concerts, theatre productions and debates to exhibitions, workshops and community events throughout the year.
Speaking at the campaign launch, BBC broadcaster Steve Knibbs, who chairs the campaign committee, said supporting the project had been 'an easy yes' for him, adding that he had never previously been involved in a fundraising initiative of this scale. Reflecting on the importance of creativity, he said: 'The arts are within all of us. It's an essential part of how we live.'
Development Manager at The Crypt School, Sarah Veal, who is leading the campaign, said: 'This is about more than a building. It's about ensuring that every young person has the opportunity to explore their creativity, regardless of background. We want this to be a shared space – one that brings people together and strengthens the whole community.'
The new Creative & Performing Arts Centre is set to be named the Charles Lepper Centre in honour of the former head of English whose passion for school productions inspired generations of students and helped shape The Crypt's long-standing commitment to the arts.
Its creative alumni include EMF songwriter Ian Dench, internationally recognised tenor Charles Bequignon-MacDougall, Sky Portrait Artist of the Year 2025 winner Chloe Barnes and the late David Phipps, principal horn of the London Symphony Orchestra, as just a few examples.
The development will be delivered in two phases, with the first phase requiring around £2.9 million to begin construction. Several major donations have already been pledged, providing early momentum towards the overall £6 million target, with the second phase expected to follow subject to continued fundraising and grant support.
Looking ahead, Nick said this project represents an opportunity to create 'a legacy for the next 500 years of The Crypt School' – ensuring creativity, performance and the arts continue to flourish for future generations of students and the wider Gloucester community.
For more information, visit cryptschool.org and to donate visit giveasyoulive.com.
