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 2023-24 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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Miles Backer
Featured Team Member

Guest Services Representative/ Interim Graphics Assistant

Miles Backer

Miles Backer (he/him) is a graduate from UCSC with a B.A 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 thinking…
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Marla headshot
Featured Team Member

Deputy Director

Marla Novo

Marla Novo (she/her) earned a Master of Arts in Art History from San Jose State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from UC Santa Cruz. She has 30 years of experience curating exhibitions at non-profit institutions as well as…
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Rebecca Synder
Featured Team Member

Archives Assistant

Rebecca Snyder

Rebecca Snyder (she/her) received her BA in Literature and History of Art and Visual Culture from UCSC, where she got involved in a fellowship between the university and the MAH to pursue digitization efforts in archives. While working…
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Ginger headshot website
Featured Team Member

Executive Director

Ginger Shulick Porcella

Ginger Shulick Porcella (she/they) earned a Master of Arts in Socio-Cultural Anthropology from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from DePaul University. Prior to working at the MAH, Porcella has been the Executive…
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Tahnee
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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Meet Us All

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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