Interesting Facts You Never Knew About the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga
Published December 27, 2017 at 6:27 pm
When people think of Mississauga, they don’t necessarily think of its thriving–and growing–arts scene.
But they should.
This past year, the city’s Living Arts Centre–an attractive building that’s located just a few steps from Square One–welcomed Canadian music legend Gordon Lightfoot, pleased holiday traditionalists with sold out performances of A Christmas Carol (if you want to see Scrooge on stage, you have to be fast on your feet) and hosted a huge TedX event.
The building has actually been around for two decades–even though it looks pretty shiny and new–and offers residents a few things they might not be aware of.
Without further adieu, here are some interesting facts about The Living Arts Centre that you probably never knew.
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All facts courtesy of the LAC
10) It’s Always Busy
The Living Arts Centre hosts over 100 performances in its theatres annually, welcoming more than 400,000 culturally diverse visitors every year.
9) It Offers Workshops and Classes
From painting and sculpting to metalworking and glass blowing, the LAC offers over 200 community courses workshops annually, welcoming over 2000 participants.
“We get to see lots of these students grow up and continue to study visual and performing arts in higher education, coming back to volunteer, intern or work here,” says Sara Richardson, marketing and publicity coordinator with the LAC.
8) It Produces A Lot of Crafts
Last year, activity within the LAC’s professional studios resulted in over 20,000 pounds of glass and 10,000 pounds of clay being crafted. Also, over 350 cubic feet of sawdust produced!
7) It’s Also a Summer Camp
Richardson says the LAC sees over 1000 campers walk through its doors over winter break, March Break and summer camp season.
6) It’s Full of Volunteers
The LAC has a total of 317 volunteers who dedicated over 22,000 hours to the centre last season. A number of volunteers have worked with the LAC since the facility opened, meaning many have dedicated two decade of service to the institution.
5) It’s Also a Gallery
The LAC Gallery on the second floor offers free admission to its rotating exhibitions throughout the year, showcasing local emerging and mid-career artists with a focus on Mississauga and the surrounding regions.
4) There’s a Gift Shop
Have you stopped by the LAC Gift Shop? The ground floor shop sells unique accessories, jewellery, ornaments, decorations and furniture handmade by talented and hardworking resident artists.
3) It’s the Place to be on Family Day
The Centre hosts free activities, workshops and performances for the whole family on Family Day. Last year, the LAC welcomed 7,000 attendees.
2) It Offers a Special Lunch
LIVE Restaurant, located on the ground floor, hosts a lunch on weekdays from 11:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with different entrees every week. The meals include a soup, salad and dessert buffet. If you’re catching a show, you can also reserve a Pre-Theatre Dinner or Post-Show Dessert for a more complete night out.
1) It’s Older Than You Think
Believe it or not, the LAC turned a whopping 20 years old this year.
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