Watts Happening Cultural Center
historic place
The Watts Happening Cultural Center is located at 1827 East 103rd Street in Los Angeles, California. This historic building was constructed in 1969 and completed in 1970. Architects Robert Kennard and Arthur Silvers designed it. The center originally housed the Mafundi Institute, a Black cultural organization founded in 1967, focused on community building through the arts. It also became home to the Watts Happening Coffee House. After the 1965 Watts uprising, the Watts Happening Cultural Center served as a vital hub for local Black artists, writers, and musicians. It offered a space for expression and used art for community healing. From 1970 to 1975, it was a prominent cultural center in Los Angeles. The site was designated a Historic-Cultural Monument in 2021, recognizing its significant role in the community's cultural and social history.