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When was the last time you felt awe?
Awe is often described as the feeling of being in the presence of something vast – something that expands how we understand the world. It connects us to something larger than ourselves. It reminds us that beauty, courage and kindness are all around us, if we take the time to notice.
At Lookout Santa Cruz, we believe local journalism plays a role in helping our community notice these moments – and the people and institutions that make them possible. That’s why we’re proud to welcome the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (MAH) as our newest civic partner.
As the MAH approaches its 30th anniversary, it remains one of the places in Santa Cruz County intentionally designed to create awe. In a politically divisive moment, when many people feel disconnected or under threat, creativity and culture help us imagine a more inclusive future. They sustain us. They care for our collective well-being. The MAH does this work every day – alongside artists, educators, storytellers and community partners – nurturing both body and soul.
Each exhibition, program and gathering at the MAH invites us to wonder. To see our neighbors in a new light. To remember what binds us together in this diverse, creative place we call home.
When you walk into the MAH, you don’t just see art and history – you feel them. You encounter moral beauty in the local stories of those who came before us. You experience communal belonging at events like Día de los Muertos, the Qingming Festival and First Fridays. Your perspective expands through bold visual design and powerful storytelling. Visits to places like the Evergreen Cemetery engage memory, mystery and the impermanence of life itself.
These are the moments that create awe.
Through our civic partnership, Lookout Santa Cruz is excited to help uplift the MAH’s work, share its stories more widely and connect our readers to the creative and cultural forces shaping Santa Cruz County. Together, we’re committed to celebrating the institutions that strengthen our community fabric and remind us what’s possible when we come together.
Awe isn’t reserved for cathedrals or mountaintops. It’s here – in our community, in shared creativity and in the ways we care for one another.
We’re honored to partner with the MAH in creating more moments of awe, curiosity and connection for Santa Cruz County.
