Cultural Arts & Diversity Resource Center

​The Cultural Arts and Diversity Resource Center enhances the cultural climate of the University of California, Santa Cruz and surrounding communities by celebrating diversity. We foster the spirit of unity between cultures by providing outlets for the creative talents of all cultural backgrounds through student productions of professionally and student-written plays. We support these endeavors with funds from Measure 49, providing cultural awareness and diversity, collaborative partnerships, community outreach, retention and recruitment of people of color, and opportunities for leadership and educational development. ​

"If you ever want to be blessed, learn to
​uplift someone higher than yourself"
– Mr. Don Williams

Featured Events/Programs

A mother’s hopes for her son clash with an educational system rigged against him in PIPELINE, the riveting new play by Dominique Morisseau (Skeleton Crew).
Nya, an inner-city public high school teacher, is committed to her students but desperate to give her only son Omari opportunities they’ll never have. When a controversial incident at his upstate private school threatens to get him expelled, Nya must confront his rage and her own choices as a parent. But will she be able to reach him before a world beyond her control pulls him away? 

With profound compassion and lyricism, PIPELINE brings an urgent conversation powerfully to the fore. Don’t miss this deeply moving story of a mother’s fight to give her son a future — without turning her back on the community that made him who he is.

Diversity • Cultural Arts • Representation

​The Cultural Arts and Diversity Resource Center hosts the only multicultural theater arts troupe in the entire UC system. Every year, Rainbow Theater casts a collective of diverse actors for a multi-faceted 2-week long production of plays dealing with issues pertaining to identity and society through performing arts.  Rainbow Theater is a production by the community for the community, engaging UCSC, the larger Santa Cruz community and anybody with a mind and heart willing to listen. ​

Celebrating 30 Years

Thank you for joining us in honoring the AATAT for 30 years of outstanding theater performance and public service!
Watch the recorded Gala screening here or view the digital program here, or listen to the AATAT 30 Podcast on Spotify.
“The AATAT30” highlights alumni and key players of the African American Theater Arts Troupe in order to illustrate the importance of Black theater and the creative and educational space that AATAT provides for ABC-identified UCSC students. From heartwarming stories to wisdom about cultural theater, The AATAT30 podcast will cover what AATAT is all about.

Special Thanks