For almost three decades, the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (MAH) has served as a cultural anchor, offering a platform for art, history, and creative exploration. From celebrating the county’s unique spirit to providing a space for meaningful connections, the MAH is a vital gathering place, fostering engagement and combatting a growing wave of loneliness and isolation.
National studies reveal that nearly half of U.S. adults experience loneliness, but the MAH is stepping up to address this challenge. By inviting participants to immerse themselves in art, history, and community, the museum offers an antidote to social isolation.
As the year draws to a close, the MAH is rallying support to raise $100,000 to sustain its mission of connecting people through culture and local history. Thanks to a generous anonymous donor, all contributions made by December 31, 2024 will be matched up to $50,000, effectively doubling the impact of each gift.
Looking ahead to 2025, the MAH has organized a dynamic lineup of programs and exhibitions to strengthen community bonds. Key highlights include:
- Accidentally Wes Anderson: Adventures in Santa Cruz (January 24–May 18, 2025), an exhibition that pays tribute to the world of travel photography, community, and adventure, where architecture, design, and aesthetics converge in stunning symmetry reminiscent of the iconic filmmaker’s visual style.
- London Nelson Legacy Initiative (February 2025 – ongoing): A newly unveiled section in the History Gallery will focus on the stories of Black pioneers in pre-1900s Santa Cruz County. This initiative, a collaboration between the MAH and a Black-led citizen group, seeks to honor and explore this often-overlooked history.
- Threads of Love: The AIDS Memorial Quilt (May 30 – June 29, 2025): This poignant exhibition will reflect on the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on the LGBTQ+ community, celebrating the resilience and activism that emerged in response to the crisis.
- He’e nalu ma California: How Three Hawaiian Princes Brought Surfing to the Americas (July 19, 2025 – January 4, 2026): Visitors will discover how three Hawaiian princes—David Kawananakoa, Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana’ole, and Edward Keliiahonui—introduced the sport of surfing to the U.S. mainland through Santa Cruz in 1885, forever altering the region’s connection to the ocean.
“Our 2025 exhibition lineup reflects the MAH’s core values,” says Marla Novo, Interim Executive Director of the MAH. “For decades, I’ve walked to work, wondering about the hidden stories we can uncover and the creative projects we can support. The MAH is a special place where people can share experiences and have unexpected connections with each other in order to create a stronger, caring community.”
Rebecca Hernandez, PhD, Community Archivist at the UC Santa Cruz University Library and MAH Board Member, says, “I support the MAH because it is a space that welcomes everyone, is committed to sharing a wide variety of arts and culture, and is a community hub. We need the MAH in our city, it allows us to engage, grow, and share.”
Community support remains vital to the MAH’s work. Those who have experienced the joy and connection the museum brings are encouraged to invest in a more socially resilient Santa Cruz County. By contributing today, supporters can help the MAH secure a 1:1 match from an anonymous donor, ensuring a vibrant future for the museum and our community.
