The Institute of Texan Cultures' new location continues to center its iconic neon Texas Flag. (Parks Kugle/Community Impact)
The University of Texas at San Antonio, or UT San Antonio, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the reopening of the Institute of Texan Cultures, or ITC, at its new location in the Frost Tower Jan. 28.
The details
The ITC was established in 1965 to highlight the rich tapestry of Texan cultures during the 1968 Hemisfair. Afterwards, the ITC became a permanent center dedicated to researching the history of the people of Texas. In 1973, ITC became a part of the newly formed University of Texas at San Antonio, according to the ITC website.
The ITC offers a variety of programming:
Exhibits, programs and special events
Outreach programs for schools and community groups
Teacher-training workshops
Community events, including the Texas Folklife Festival and Asian Festival
The first exhibit at the new location showcases Texas' unique homecoming culture. (Parks Kugle/Community Impact)
The new location will showcase the diversity of Texas cultures and host rotating exhibits that highlight different aspects of Texas’ unique heritage.
Quotes of note
During the ribbon-cutting celebration, several speakers praised UT San Antonio and the museum’s commitment to documenting and researching Texas’s diverse cultures.
"Today truly marks a new day for this beloved Texas institution, a bold step forward for UT San Antonio and our shared commitment to honoring the past while building the future,” said Heather Shipley, provost and senior executive vice president for Academic Affairs at UT San Antonio.
"Every block in downtown San Antonio tells a story. Our job, collectively—including mine—is to revive the heartbeat, because we have that soul. And ladies and gentlemen, with the asset that we have here today, with the reopening of ITC, we are pounding that heartbeat,” said Trish DeBerry, president and CEO of Centro San Antonio.
"Today, we stand on a strong foundation, reeducating ourselves to our core mission to honor and celebrate the stories of the many people who have called Texas home across time while exploring new forms of engagement and storytelling,” said Monica Perales, associate vice provost for the Institute of Texan Cultures.
After opening remarks, UT San Antonio President Taylor Eighmy, Associate Vice Provost for the Institute of Texan Cultures Monica Perales, President and CEO of Centro San Antonio Trish DeBerry, and Provost and Senior Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Heather Shipley cut the ribbon. (Parks Kugle/Community Impact)
