Pagoda Arts is a community-rooted cultural organisation based in Liverpool, with a legacy of over 40 years serving the public through music, education, heritage, and community empowerment. We are best known for our inclusive and creative work with young people and families, using Chinese arts and cultural traditions as tools for connection, pride, and transformation.
At the heart of Pagoda Arts is the Pagoda Chinese Youth Orchestra (PCYO) — the first and longest-running Chinese youth orchestra in Europe, and one of Arts Council England’s National Youth Music Organisations. PCYO provides professional coaching and performance opportunities for young people aged 8–18, regardless of background or experience.
But our work goes far beyond the stage.
Pagoda Arts is a unique hybrid of a cultural organisation and grassroots community hub. We support Chinese and wider East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) communities through anti-racism campaigns, advocacy, oral history projects, creative storytelling, mental health awareness, and culturally sensitive social support. Our work often responds to unmet needs in the community, offering trusted spaces and tailored programmes that many mainstream services may not reach.
We have presented and curated community exhibitions, documentary projects, and intercultural events that bring untold stories to light — including wartime rescue accounts, diaspora memories, and youth-led creative responses to hate crime.
Whether through music, language, history, or care, Pagoda Arts exists to preserve heritage, empower individuals, and give a platform to underrepresented voices. Our work is local, national, and global in its reach — but always grounded in community.
Support Pagoda Arts — and help us grow the future of Chinese culture and community in the UK.
