About the MAH

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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

Featured Team Member

Programs Coordinator

Tahnee Henningsen

Tahnee Henningsen (she/her) received her BA in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she developed a passion for community psychology and social justice. Tahnee is Concow, Maidu and an enrolled Mooretown Rancheria…

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Featured Team Member

Systems Administrator

Roberto Ojeda

Robert Ojeda (he/him) earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of California in Riverside. Prior to arriving at the MAH Robert worked in the financial industry before choosing to focus on his calling for building…

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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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Featured Team Member

Education & Outreach Manager

Oscar Paz

Oscar Paz (he/him) was born and raised in the land of eternal spring, Guatemala, and brings his passion for teaching to the MAH. Before coming to the MAH, Oscar was teaching Spanish here in Santa Cruz. During weekdays, you can catch him…

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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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Featured Team Member

Guest Services Representative

Jamilli Pacheco-Urquiza

Jamilli Pacheco-Urquiza (he/they) hails from New Jersey. He is currently working towards his M.F.A. in Social Documentation at UC Santa Cruz. When not at school or at the museum, they like to read, cook, and watch movies. Their favorite…

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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.

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