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

Hans
Featured Team Member

Director of Finance & Administration

Hans Wuerfmannsdobler

Hans Wuerfmannsdobler (he/him) has more than twenty years of experience in the nonprofit sector. After two years of service in AmeriCorps, he worked in a variety of organizations including a political nonprofit, HandsOn Bay Area, and a…
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Marla headshot
Featured Team Member

Interim Executive Director / Director of Exhibitions & Programs

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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Mah headshot 1
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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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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Oscar Headshot NEW
Featured Team Member

Education & Outreach Manager

Oscar Paz

Oscar Paz (he/him) was born and raised in the land of eternal spring, Guatemala. He brings his passion for community engagement and education to the MAH by activating exhibitions through diverse programming focusing on inclusivity and…
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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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Meet Us All

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.

Our Story

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.

Careers
Other Ways to Get Involved