Housed in a colorfully painted former water tower, WorldBeat Center opened in Balboa Park in 1996. Classes in international dance and drumming are offered year round, along with concerts and lectures. Founded in 1984 as WorldBeat Productions by Executive Director, Makeda Cheatom in San Diego. The WorldBeat Cultural Center serves the community as a non-profit community center, performing arts center for classes and showcasing, museum, gift shop, cafe and outdoor classroom. As a non-profit multi-cultural arts organization the WorldBeat Cultural Center is dedicated to promoting, presenting & preserving the African & Indigenous cultures of the world through Music, Art, Dance, Education & Technology
George Washington Carver Ethnobotany Peace Garden
WorldBeat Center’s Healing Peace Garden is an urban oasis featuring countless rare edible and medicinal plants that hold cultural significance. The garden was designed as a special place to help teach our community about the healing role of plants in society.
Today, the garden acts as an Outdoor Classroom and offers a wide variety of programs at the Garden, including citizen science through Celebrate Urban Birds, school tours, Summer Camp programs, internship programs, workshops, events and STEM research projects. As the first sustainable, edible garden in Balboa Park, this unique spot is also a Certified Monarch Way-station and a Certified Wildlife Habitat. Read more here.
One WorldBeat Cafe
Located in the WorldBeat Center, its the first all vegan cafe in Balboa Park. Serving Caribbean vegan soul food and alternative health drinks like kombucha on-tap. Come try to some of our popular items like our Jamaican patties, African-Peanut Curry and our Jerk Rasta Burger. Open Friday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Read more here.
Current & Upcoming Exhibitions
CURRENT & UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS/EVENTS
Pathways to Freedom
Come learn about the Black History of Mexico and how the Underground Railroad not only went North but also South into Mexico because slavery was abolished in Mexico first. This exhibit tells about the shared history between Blacks, Brown and Indigenous. Read more here.
Africa AC: Nuestras Jornadas por el Reconocimiento del Pueblo Negro de México / Our Journeys for Recognition of Mexico’s Black People
Through October 31, 2023. Virtual Exhibit. WorldBeat Cultural Center is excited to launch its first virtual exhibition! Enter and take a tour and learn about the Black community of Mexico in Costa Chica, Oaxaca. Photos courtesy of Israel Reyes Larrea. Read more here.
Visit WorldBeat Cultural Center
Address:
2100 Park Blvd
San Diego, CA
92101
Phone:
(619) 230-1190
Hours:
Cultural Center hours vary by event.
WorldBeat Cafe Hours
Friday – Sunday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Website:
2100 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA
