New Institute of Texan Cultures Exhibit Invites San Antonio Visitors to Find Their Own 'Common Threads'
As San Antonio prepares for the reopening of the UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures in its brand-new downtown location, museumgoers are in for more than just a fresh setting—they’re stepping into a whole new way of experiencing Texas history.
Set to open its doors on January 29 at 111 W. Houston St., Suite 100, the museum’s new home brings a reimagined mission to life: to build cultural bridges across the Lone Star State’s past and present. At the heart of this effort is the main gallery exhibit, “Common Threads,” a thoughtful, multi-voiced journey through shared experience, identity, and community.
In a recent behind-the-scenes reflection, head curator Bianca Alvarez shared how the ITC’s approach to exhibition design has shifted to center connection and personal meaning. “Curating an exhibition is much like assembling a puzzle,” Alvarez explains. “Each object selected serves a purpose within the overarching theme... a puzzle that each visitor builds through their own lens.”
The new “Common Threads” exhibit is structured around four thematic sections that invite visitors to reflect on their own lives while exploring the lives of others across time:
- Home and Family Life: A space where culture is created, shared, and lived.
- Honoring Heritage and Traditions: Encouraging contemplation on how diverse communities preserve and adapt cultural identities.
- Arts and Culture: Celebrating Texas’s ever-evolving creative legacy through the dynamic exchange of ideas.
- Celebrating Community: Honoring the resilience and unity that defines Texas through shared celebrations and acts of service.
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Whether you're a local looking to explore more of downtown San Antonio or visiting the River Walk with family, the reopening of the Institute of Texan Cultures offers a meaningful stop where history, identity, and storytelling come together. As a cultural touchstone in the heart of the city, the ITC invites people of all ages—from Bexar County and beyond—to connect with Texas’s diverse heritage in a way that feels both personal and powerful.
Alvarez also highlighted how the exhibit design intentionally invites curiosity. Pairing items separated by a century but united by theme—like migration or making a home—encourages visitors to ask deeper questions: “What did people pack in that trunk? What did they leave behind?”
Technology also plays a major role in making exhibits more accessible. One powerful example is the display of a cottonwood dugout canoe, which anchors the “Honoring Heritage and Traditions” section. The canoe’s story is enriched through collaboration with the Karankawa Tribe of Texas and the Five Rivers Council, whose voices, photos, and original artwork were woven into the presentation. Digital tools allow the story to extend beyond museum walls, making it available to audiences far and wide.
“Not only have we sought loaned items from the community,” Alvarez shared, “but also their voices, perspectives and expertise... We have married scholarship with the value of lived experience, creating a space where stories are shared, not just displayed.”
For both longtime San Antonio residents and first-time visitors, the newly reopened Institute of Texan Cultures offers an experience that’s fresh, engaging, and rooted in community. With hands-on exhibits, powerful stories, and a welcoming downtown location, it’s a space where families, students, and curious minds can explore Texas’s rich cultural tapestry in a way that feels both timely and timeless.
As Alvarez concluded: “In the end, this new approach to our exhibits is about curating with purpose — curating for connection.” And that sense of purpose is something Texans of all backgrounds can feel proud to be a part of.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.