The Living Arts Centre has been the cultural heartbeat of downtown Mississauga since it opened in October 1997. Designed by the Zeidler Partnership and notable for its sweeping glass facade that floods the interior with natural light, this 225,000-square-foot facility is the city’s premier destination for performing arts, visual art, creative education, and community gathering.
At its core, the Living Arts Centre is a performance venue with three distinct halls: the Main Auditorium (formerly Hammerson Hall, seating 1,300), the Studio Theatre (formerly RBC Theatre, up to 310 seats in multiple configurations), and the Screening Room (formerly Rogers Theatre, 109 seats). Together, they host an eclectic annual lineup spanning symphonies, ballet, theatrical productions, rock shows, comedy, and international touring acts. The Mississauga Symphony Orchestra — a resident tenant since 1997 — performs its season here under Maestro Denis Mastromonaco.
Beyond ticketed performances, the Living Arts Centre is home to seven professional art studios occupied by resident artists, who also teach a wide range of recreational classes and workshops for all ages, from ceramics and glass blowing to filmmaking and woodcarving. The Laidlaw Hall exhibition gallery rotates visual art exhibitions throughout the year.
The centre’s LIVE! Restaurant, located on the ground floor adjacent to the elevators, offers pre-theatre dining in an elegant setting surrounded by full-length windows, with a lunchtime menu available during gallery hours and a more formal dinner service for evening performances. Private rooms are available for special occasions.
With over 400,000 visitors each year and programming that ranges from accessible community classes to world-class touring productions, the Living Arts Centre is one of the most active cultural venues in the Greater Toronto Area — and a defining institution of Mississauga’s downtown core.
Practical Visitor Info
Address:
4141 Living Arts Drive, Mississauga, ON L5B 4B8
Phone:
(905) 306-6000
Website:
https://www.mississauga.ca/arts-and-culture/locations/living-arts-centre/
Hours:
Administrative hours: Mon–Fri 8:30am–4:30pm. Box office opens 2 hours before each performance. Hours vary based on programming — check website for current schedule.
Admission:
Gallery access is free. Performance tickets vary by event — book via the centre’s website or Ticketmaster.
Getting There:
Short walk from Square One Shopping Centre and City Centre Transit Terminal (MiWay). Free parking on-site.
Nearby:
Celebration Square, Art Gallery of Mississauga, Square One Shopping Centre, Hazel McCallion Central Library
