About the MAH

The Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (MAH) is a thriving community gathering place that offers a full slate of art and history exhibitions, visual and performing artworks, public festivals, education and outreach programs, and cultural celebrations in collaboration with our many partners.

Our vision is to ignite shared experiences and unexpected connections that enrich our community.

To achieve that, our mission is to bring people together through art and local history to explore our diverse cultures. We are guided by the following values:

• Engagement & Collaboration
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility
• Innovation & Experimentation
• Excellence & Rigor
• Accountability, Integrity & Responsibility

Read MAH 2026, our latest strategic plan.

A portrait in numbers

These statistics paint an interesting picture of the MAH. Get the full view by reading our 2022-23 Annual Report.

Visitors

17,000

2011

85,000

2023

Budget

$700K

2011

$2.0M

2023

Events

25

2011

200

2023

The People of the MAH

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Featured Team Member

Exhibitions Manager

Natalie Jenkins

Natalie Jenkins (she/her/they/them) received an MFA in Visual Art from the University of California, Riverside, after studying Fine Art and Craft with an emphasis on Woodworking at the Oregon College of Art and Craft. As a visual artist…
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Featured Team Member

Archives Specialist

Jessie Durant

Jessie Durant (she/her) earned her BA in History of Art and Visual Culture from UCSC and MLIS from San Jose State. She fell in love with the archival profession when she interned in the MAH archives during graduate school. She is excited…
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Coury Jones
Featured Team Member

Assistant Education Coordinator, THI Fellow

Coury Jones

Coury Jones (they/them) is a fourth year at UC Santa Cruz majoring in History with a concentration in the Americas and Africa. They hail from right outside Yosemite National Park and grew up looking for tadpoles in the Merced River. They…
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Litzy
Featured Team Member

Guest Services Representative

Litzy Mozqueda-Franyutti

Litzy Mozqueda-Franyutti (she/her) was born and raised in Watsonville CA, she has developed a deep love for Santa Cruz County, with endless fields of fruits, breezy beaches, and compelling history. Being surrounded by people who guide and…
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Miles Backer
Featured Team Member

Guest Services Representative

Miles Backer

Miles Backer (he/him) is a recent graduate from UCSC with a major in history and minor in anthropology, specializing in the ancient world and the concept of magic. He hopes to eventually curate historical wonders and inspire new ways of…
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Rebecca Synder
Featured Team Member

Archives Assistant

Rebecca Snyder

Rebecca Snyder (she/her) is in her final year at UCSC studying Literature and History of Art and Visual Culture. Interested in how art and archival records shape our world and lived experiences, learning more about this at the MAH has been…
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Our History

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The Evolution of the MAH

From our humble beginnings to the dynamic space we are today, the MAH has adapted to meet the needs of Santa Cruz County.

Dig into our history of partnerships, perseverance, and resilience to discover how we became one of the country's most creative and forward-thinking community museums.

Work at the MAH

Join the crew behind Santa Cruz County’s most creative events, exhibitions, and partnerships. Check out job opportunities or apply to be a volunteer or intern today.