A new era for the Institute of Texan Cultures
The UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures stands poised to embark on a transformative journey to redefine its role within our state’s cultural landscape. As we look toward the possibilities, our commitment to honoring the past while imagining the future remains unwavering.
Over the years, the ITC has captivated generations of visitors by bringing Texan culture to life. The museum’s unique collections, engaging exhibits and vibrant community events have honored our state’s diverse communities and celebrated the many stories of the people who have defined what it means to be Texan.
Recently, we announced that the ITC will be moving out of the Texas Pavilion into a temporary location in Frost Tower as we continue to make plans for its permanent home.
The Frost Tower offers an exciting opportunity to create a makerspace to explore and test new technologies for the museum’s future.
The new museum, led by UTSA staff, will provide a dynamic, accessible and immersive place for rich, multisensory storytelling and building on founding director R. Henderson Shuffler’s bold vision of fostering connections and telling the story of Texas.
The creative use of multimedia and digital technologies will enable us to engage visitors of all ages and reach audiences far beyond the museum’s walls.
Our dedicated docents, so central to the museum’s mission, will inspire visitors through fascinating demonstrations.
The beloved dome show that evoked the feeling of lying under the vast Texas sky will be reimagined for 21st-century audiences.
The ITC is purposefully aligned with UTSA’S mission of education, research and discovery. As we move into our temporary home, we will begin to reimagine how to tell Texas’ big, bold, visual stories in the most compelling ways.
Through a curated exhibit of some of our treasured collections and a calendar of rotating thematic exhibits created in partnership with community members, our reimagined museum will offer new dimensions for familiar stories, allowing more voices to be heard.
Cultural expressions such as music, food customs and more will enable visitors to see not only how individual groups have preserved their beloved cultural traditions but also how our state’s cultures have evolved.
To safeguard and foster this valuable community resource, the American Alliance of Museums’ Core Standards for Museums,
the gold standard of excellence in the museum world, will guide the ITC’S future.
Reaching American Alliance of Museums, or AAM, accreditation would ensure that the ITC meets the highest professional benchmarks of an innovative and inspiring visitor experience. To date, this has been unachievable due in part to the limitations of the museum’s current location.
These standards also enable the museum to benefit more fully from its affiliation with the Smithsonian Institution to bring national, high-caliber exhibits to San Antonio.
Particularly significant to UTSA as a Tier One research institution, AAM accreditation would create enhanced research and career-engaged learning opportunities for UTSA students, faculty and staff, fostering deeper engagement with San Antonio and beyond.
Accreditation would also increase the museum’s credibility, attracting support from funding agencies for a sustainable future.
Accreditation is not just a badge of honor but a testament of our commitment to excellence and dedication to our community.
We recognize the strong memories our community has of the ITC. Looking ahead, we want to inspire that same sense of wonder among new generations of Texans.
As we embark on this new chapter, the ITC will continue to serve as a beacon of storytelling that celebrates the past, engages the present and inspires the future.
We invite you to join us on this journey as we shape a museum that truly embodies the spirit of Texas.