Cultural Treasures of South LA, a Promise Zone Arts initiative, is a community-based cultural asset-mapping project. A partnership between the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA), LA Commons, the South Los Angeles Transit Empowerment Zone (SLATE-Z), Community Coalition (CoCo), and USC Price Center for Social Innovation, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts’ Our Town program; its purpose is to honor the rich and diverse cultural heritage of South LA.

 

Utilizing surveying, focus groups, oral storytelling, and ethnography, we’ve identified over 200 Cultural Treasures within South LA. Cultural Treasures can be local artists, sites, organizations, cultural practices, events, tradition bearers, and more! With the help of community members, not only does this initiative highlight the important treasures that add to the vibrant cultural capital of South LA, but it will also aid in the preservation of treasures at-risk of being lost.