Discover awe in the company of the creative and curious. Experience bilingual exhibitions, unique events, educational resources, and community collaborations.
This Is Thirty: Celebrating the MAH and Our Creative Community
In celebration of the MAH’s 30 year anniversary, This Is Thirty will highlight some of the artwork and artifacts from our permanent collection, reflecting on the museum's history.
Across the gallery and in conversation with This Is Thirty, explore a site specific installation by Joshua Moreno titled The Things We Did and Didn't Do. Moreno uses materials from the MAH's archives to explore how context shapes meaning.
Step into the MAH’s Archives Reading Room during our weekly Open Archives hours. Meet the archivist, see a unique item from the collection on display, and discover where Santa Cruz history is preserved.
We’re looking for community members to donate $30 during the 30-day window from May 15 to June 15. It’s a small gift with a massive impact, helping us kick off our next three decades of world-class exhibitions and community programs.
In celebration of Pride Month, the MAH is excited to announce that our Queerstory Self-Guided Walking Tour is now available at our front desk!
To participate, visitors can pick up a tour brochure in the MAH Atrium and begin the walking tour of pivotal downtown Santa Cruz locations in the history of the local LGBTQIA+ community. Featured stops include the former site of Herland, a lesbian bookstore operating from the early '90s to the early 2000s; Commerce Lane, home to the first Santa Cruz Lesbian and Gay Community Center; and the Blue Lagoon, a spot still operating in its original location that was once known to be a gay bar.
To accompany the launch of the tour, Kian Hladky has shared a look into his archival research and process behind this project.
Thank you to the Diversity Center of Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz Pride, the County Office of Education, and other community partners that honor, support, and promote LGBTQ+ perspectives. With support from the Fund for the City of New York on behalf of its fiscally sponsored project, the NYC LGBTQ Historic Sites Project.
The MAH is now accepting applications for “Davenport Day”, a one-day community celebration taking place adjacent to Historic Davenport Jail in North County Santa Cruz. Visitors can experience Joshua Moreno’s installation at Davenport Jail for one last time, take a historic walking tour of downtown Davenport, enjoy music by local musicians and DJs, sample food from local restaurants and food trucks, and support the art, creativity, and culture of local artists and nonprofit vendors.
If you are interested in tabling this event, please send an email of interest to ginger@santacruzmah.org by June 10. Applicants must be based in Santa Cruz or San Mateo County, with preference placed on residents living in/around Davenport.
The London Nelson Legacy Initiative is a collaboration between a Black-led citizen group and the MAH to research and share the stories of Black pioneers in pre-1900s Santa Cruz County.
This summer, we want kids to experience the best MAH summer! We are excited to offer two vibrant creative camps, each one week long and filled with hands-on learning! School may be out, but art and history are in at the MAH!
Art & Ecology Camp, led by muralist Jessica Carmen, invites campers to explore art and nature while creating murals inspired by our galleries, culminating in a showcase of their work. (CLOSED)
Dance as Moving Art: Intro to Dancemaking & Storytelling, led by Motion Pacific Dance instructors Gabi Piazza and Kali Lucas, encourages campers to choreograph original dance pieces while learning movement, storytelling, and collaboration. All Camps run 9 am–1 pm, with optional care until 3 pm. Snacks and materials are included, and space is limited.
“The MAH is a hotbed of community building and creativity. Working with the MAH means bringing exciting ideas and projects not only to life, but also to the broader Santa Cruz County community.”
Steve McKay, Professor of Sociology and Director, UCSC Center for Labor and Community
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