Tickets to the MAH's 30th Anniversary Red Ball Gala are available for purchase now! The Red Ball is on Saturday, April 11.
A powerful exhibition that reflects on the profound impact the HIV/AIDS epidemic had on the LGBTQ+ community. It celebrates the enduring resilience, love, and activism that has defined our collective journey.
Sharing a gallery space with Out of the Closet and Into the Streets: 50 Years of Santa Cruz Pride.
Threads of Love is more than an art exhibit; it is a living love letter to the past, present, and future of the LGBTQ+ community. The exhibit seeks to educate, inspire, and engage visitors in a reflection of the challenges faced during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis and the meaningful exploration of our shared history. As Santa Cruz Pride marks its 50th anniversary, the Threads of Love exhibit serves as a celebration of our community’s ongoing commitment to social justice, advocacy, mutual support, and well-being.
Central to the exhibit will be panels from the AIDS Memorial Quilt, a poignant reminder of the lives lost and the memories that continue to sustain us. Alongside the AIDS Memorial Quilt, will be a display of a diverse collection of artwork created by local students and community members displaying the focus of HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention, and education. Threads of Love was inspired by a Queer teen from Santa Cruz High School who expressed a desire to see the AIDS Memorial Quilt after attending The Diversity Center’s youth programming event at the Queer Santa Cruz exhibit at the MAH.
As part of this initiative, The Diversity Center will be hosting monthly art workshops where community members can create art for the exhibit. The Diversity Center will partner with local educators across various disciplines to engage students in creating art for the exhibit. These works of art will serve as tools for combating stigma and discrimination historically associated with HIV/AIDS and the LGBTQ+ community.
We will also be weaving in the volunteer-made documentary Never the Last Love Letter. Here is some information about the film: https://www.diversitycenter.org/hivaids-documentary
May 30, 2025 – Jun 29, 2025
An exhibition highlighting the pluck, panache and purpose of our local LGBTQ+ Pride gatherings that have been held through thick and thin every year since 1975.
Help fuel a strong and resilient MAH by becoming a MAH Member or making a donation. Your contribution directly supports the future of the museum and connecting our community through art, history, and culture.