Living Arts Centre

Living Arts Centre
Name	Living Arts Centre
Location	Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Architect	Raymond Moriyama
Owner	City of Mississauga
Opened	1997
Type	Performing arts centre

Living Arts Centre The Living Arts Centre is a multi-disciplinary cultural complex in Mississauga, Ontario, located near Mississauga City Centre and adjacent to Square One Shopping Centre. Opened in 1997, the facility was developed during the tenure of Mayor Hazel McCallion and was part of wider revitalization efforts linked to regional planning initiatives involving the Region of Peel and the City of Mississauga. The centre has hosted touring productions by companies such as the Canadian Opera Company, the National Ballet of Canada, and ensembles associated with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

History

Conceived in the early 1990s, the project was influenced by municipal cultural policy debates involving the Ontario Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts, and provincial ministers such as Carolyn Bennett and Ernie Eves. Groundbreaking followed consultations with stakeholders including the Mississauga Arts Council, local arts groups like the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra, and community leaders connected to institutions such as the University of Toronto Mississauga and the Peel District School Board. The inauguration featured dignitaries from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's Commonwealth network and cultural figures tied to national celebrations such as Canada Day and the 1998 Cultural Olympiad. Over subsequent decades, the venue has been a site for touring productions by companies including the Kronos Quartet, the Cirque du Soleil, and theatrical presentations associated with the Stratford Festival and the Shaw Festival.

Architecture and design

Designed by architect Raymond Moriyama, whose portfolio includes projects such as the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and the Ontario Science Centre, the complex exhibits postmodern elements and site-specific responses to the urban fabric of Mississauga City Centre and nearby landmarks like Dixie Road and Hurontario Street. The architectural program references public works by designers who collaborated with the Canadian Centre for Architecture and draws parallels to performing arts venues such as the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts and the National Arts Centre. Structural engineering and acoustic consultancy paralleled major projects like the Philharmonie de Paris and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in pursuit of optimized sound for orchestral, chamber, and amplified events. Landscape interventions around the site respond to municipal plans related to the Credit River watershed and transit corridors tied to regional projects like the Hurontario LRT.

Facilities and programming

The complex houses a main proscenium theatre, a recital hall, rehearsal studios, visual arts galleries, and multi-use spaces comparable to those found at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and the Royal Conservatory of Music. Technical infrastructure supports lighting and rigging systems used by touring productions from the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Ballet of Cuba, and contemporary companies affiliated with festivals such as the Toronto International Film Festival and the Luminato Festival. Educational amenities mirror partnerships common to cultural centres working with institutions like the Mississauga Library System, Sheridan College, and the Ontario College of Art and Design University.

Performances and exhibitions

The venue presents a cross-section of music, dance, theatre, and visual arts, featuring touring artists from ensembles including the Juno Awards nominees, chamber groups linked to the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, and international acts on circuits shared with venues like Massey Hall and the Roy Thomson Hall. Visual exhibitions have showcased contemporary artists whose work circulates through institutions such as the Art Gallery of Ontario, the National Gallery of Canada, and artist-run centres connected to the Ontario Arts Foundation. Programming has included collaborations with festivals and presenters like the Toronto Fringe Festival, Pride Toronto, and the Mississauga Waterfront Festival.

Community engagement and education

Educational programming has been delivered in partnership with organizations like the Ontario Heritage Trust, the Canadian Music Centre, and local school boards including the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board. Community initiatives mirror outreach models practiced by the National Theatre School of Canada and involve youth ensembles, elder arts programs, and accessibility services aligned with policies from agencies such as the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. Volunteer engagement and internship arrangements have linked the centre to employment and training programs administered by the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development and local workforce agencies.

Governance and funding

Governance involves municipal oversight by the City of Mississauga and advisory input from boards similar to those associated with the Toronto Arts Council and the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Funding streams have included municipal budget allocations, project-level capital contributions from the Government of Ontario and federal cultural funding from the Department of Canadian Heritage, as well as philanthropic support channelled through foundations like the Trillium Foundation and corporate sponsorships reminiscent of partnerships with firms such as Rogers Communications and regional banks. Operational partnerships with arts organizations have followed models used by the Canadian Heritage Information Network and the Association of Performing Arts Professionals.

Category:Theatres in Ontario Category:Tourist attractions in Mississauga