About the MAH
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Welcome to the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (the MAH), a place where there’s always something happening. All year long we host truly ‘only-in-Santa-Cruz’ events and exhibitions co-created with incredible community partners. The MAH is of, by, and for Santa Cruz County because our creative community ignites something new here every day.
Our mission is to ignite shared experiences and unexpected connections.
To do this, we find, spark, preserve, and trade stories, ideas, and elements of creativity drawn from people across Santa Cruz County. We bring people together around art, history, and culture to build a stronger, more connected community.
A portrait in numbers
Kind of like paint-by-numbers, these statistics draw an interesting picture of the MAH.
The People of the MAH
Featured Team Member
Graphics & Content Creator
Michaela Clark-Nagaoka
Michaela takes the scenic route through life which included earning her BA degree in three different locations: the east coast, southern California and on a boat in the Atlantic ocean. After graduating she moved back to her hometown of…
Featured Team Member
Education Coordinator
Oscar Paz
Born and raised in the land of eternal spring, Guatemala, Oscar 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 leading school tours…
Featured Team Member
Exhibitions & Projects Manager
Whitney Ford-Terry
Whitney Ford-Terry received an MA in Museology from the University of Washington after studying Film and Philosophy at Humboldt State University. Whitney has had the opportunity to work in a variety of non-profits and museums including…
Featured Team Member
Director of Development & Communications
Chance Decker
Chance grew up right here in Monterey Bay before heading to Southern California to pursue his education at Long Beach State. His professional career has allowed him to work with a variety of organizations from international industry…
Featured Team Member
Learning & Engagement Manager
Jamie Keil
Jamie Keil's passion is creating interactive projects and hopes to build a positive and innovative learning space where everyone can explore, play, create and have fun. Before this position, she worked for a non-profit after school company…
Featured Team Member
Outreach Coordinator
Helen Aldana
Helen Aldana is a hybrid between a balaenoptera musculus and sequoia sempervirens who enjoys creating safe and inspiring spaces. Helen received a BA in Art and Philosophy at the University of California Santa Cruz and is grateful to have…
Our Storied History
The Evolution of The MAH
From our humble beginnings in the 1950’s to the ignited space we are today, the MAH has adapted to meet the needs of the Santa Cruz community.
Dig into our history of partnerships, perseverance, and resilience, and discover how we morphed into an internationally renowned museum.
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.