The University of Texas at San Antonio Institute of Texan Cultures celebrated its reopening with a Jan. 28 preview. Members of the community, including UT San Antonio schools and departments, cultural institutions, tourism industry, arts organizations and museum supporters were invited to view the new exhibits and experiences at the ITC’s new location. View images from the celebration.
 

UT San Antonio and local leaders cut the ribbon at the Institute of Texan Cultures: (L to R) 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.

 

President and CEO of Centro San Antonio Trish DeBerry delivers remarks at the ITC opening. De Berry remarked on the museum being a vital part of building “cultural infrastructure” downtown and UT San Antonio’s role in reactivating Houston Street with arts and culture.

 

ITC docent Joanne Duming greets Dr. Rajam Ramamurthy and her husband at the ITC opening. Dr. Ramamurthy is the founder of the Arathi School of Indian Dance, a frequent collaborator with the institute.

 

Witte Museum President Emeritus Marise McDermott. Guests at the ITC grand reopening included representatives from many of San Antonio’s arts and cultural institutions.

 

Guests received commemorative homecoming mums in celebration of ITC’s homecoming at its new location. The mums were inspired by ITC’s first traveling exhibit, Mumentous: The Upsizing of a Texas Tradition.

 

Artist couple Sandra Gonzalez McKinney and Malachy McKinney stand in front of “Texas Tapestry: Patterns of Belonging,” the new mural they painted for the lobby of the ITC. The mural depicts cloths from various cultures that call Texas home, along with native plants found across Texas.

 

Guests at the ITC opening take a selfie at the iconic neon Texas flag. The neon flag was a major component of the original exhibit floor and an enduring symbol of the institute’s mission: to explore, celebrate and shape the living cultures and stories that shape Texas – past, present and future.