ITC Community Conversations
ITC Centennial 2068 is a community-driven process, and public participation is critical to its success.
Round II
On Feb. 3–17, UTSA held the second phase of community engagement for ITC Centennial 2068 to solicit feedback for the recommendation reports of the three task forces.
The invitation for community participation in the survey was sent to nearly 800 individuals with affiliation, association or connection to ITC; more than 100,000 UTSA alumni living in Texas; 1,400 UTSA faculty and staff; and was also advertised locally and promoted through social media for two weeks. The online survey was available in English and Spanish. Community members also had the option of visiting the UTSA Westside Community Center (1310 Guadalupe St.) to complete the questionnaire.
Task Force Recommendation Reports
Responses
Below is a full list of responses received from the survey. These responses have not been edited, apart from spelling to improve readability. These ideas represent the individual opinions of the survey respondents.
Museum of the Future Task Force Survey Responses
| The ITC is an important community and state resource. It is unique in its emphasis on the diverse cultures creating the State of Texas. |
| Disconnect mission from building. |
| The thoughtfulness of the recommendations and the awareness of what is going on in Hemisfair and how the ITC can benefit if it remains at Hemisfair. |
| An upgraded facility would draw more visitors. A new venue would allow for better visibility and better parking for staff and visitors. |
| While overall the recommendations make sense, does not really address how it will best highlight Texas or our cultures? What will be different now that wasn't happening before? What about addressing shrinking state support? Also missing, stronger partnerships/links with Alamo. Totally agree that museums of the future are interactive — I would stress HYPER interactive. |
| Many of these proposals have been previously proposed throughout the years. |
| When I hear of the Museum of the Future Task Force I hear preservation of our past and teaching it to our future, which is what the ITC has always been about. I support this because it's a great way to protect the ITC, therefore protecting our community and a piece of what makes us who we are. |
| TEXtures is too cute. Aligning the focus on the many cultures of Texas, and ensuring accreditation with museum standards, and identifying effective revenue streams that support the local economy makes sense. |
| I hear and applaud keeping the focus of ITC as a historical scholarship-based museum with a strong K-12 educational component. I am concerned about the huge number of other functions (more festivals, restaurants, traveling exhibits) that are mentioned as I worry they can easily consume space, time, energy, and staff to the detriment of the central historical and educational museum purpose. Museums all over the country and world crash and burn when they bite off more than they can actually sustain. |
| 21st century facility with native and sustainable landscaping, which will also lend itself to festivals ; located in same general area, but now with knowledge reflecting what has been built around it since 1968 thus allowing for visibility and accessibility; allied with UTSA, but not a place for traditional classrooms or art gallery; not a traditional history museum, but one that reflects all the elements that "culture" encapsulates, such as language, food, clothing, types of businesses, agriculture, transportation, etc. should NOT be a naming opportunity for a corporate entity, it is not a football stadium; like the interactive aspects — my children still remember helping docents with carding wool and grinding corn! |
| Statewide K-12 educational engagement; improving access to the archives; structured volunteerism; increased numbers of festivals and special events. I DO NOT agree that renaming would be beneficial. |
| The branding of the ITC and how integral that will be for moving forward along with the idea of establishing a non-profit. I believe the ITC could flourish as a nonprofit organization. |
| The Texas Pavilion does not meet the needs of a Museum of the Future and a new multi-purpose facility with capacity for interactive technology is needed. |
| Keeping the ITC in the Hemisfair, but moving it to a new location with support for technology, a cafe, and a space for outdoor festivals. |
| Accessibility and Inclusiveness. Creating a more open and engaging museum of the future. |
| Involvement of the community to create a living, breathing space that goes beyond measuring or cataloguing culture and becomes a space where it can actively be created. |
| I think it is important to educate K-12. |
| Moving to another building. From what I have gathered from news coverage over the past few years, there is a huge amount of work that needs to go into making the building safe. |
| Who determines bias in history? |
| All I wish to say is I am beyond disappointed at your keeping the museum closed when everything else is open in San Antonio. (Editor’s note: The Institute of Texan Cultures re-opened Sept. 16, 2021.) |
| The current facilities are not sustainable for growth and are unable to meet requirements to support Smithsonian exhibits and other loaned exhibitions. Develop a welcoming and highly visible, and easily accessible purpose-built space for the exhibits, store, café, offices, learning spaces, and community communal space. Move the Special Collections to a more appropriate location that is easier to access and has the proper environmental controls necessary for preserving archives. |
| A new smaller multi-purpose facility. The current building is really quite sad. |
| ITC visitors should be contributors. Community programs/exhibits/events should empower visitors to tell their Texan story. |
| UTSA students as docents, content creators. |
| I dearly love this project because there is so much opportunity to protect cultures. This museum should be considered one of the most important UTSA projects of our day. |
| I love that the ITC is finally thinking toward the future and discarding pieces of itself that don't work toward its goals. Acknowledging that the building itself is not functional towards ITC goals is a huge step forward! |
| I love so much about the philosophy of the ITC, I'm glad that those things are brought to the forefront. |
| The only thing ... Tex/Tures is not good. The backslash is extremely awkward and my autocorrect wanted "Tures" to be "tires" so bad. I love that ITC is finally concerned about adequate branding and marketing but I think everyone was so fixated on not attaching the name to a place or function that they created something meaningless and confusing. DoSeum has "seum", we know what that means. Hemisfair because of the 68 fair. Tex/Tures... Maybe Texas....? |
| Make much of the collection available online to attract a larger audience and move ITC special collections to UTSA Special Collections Library. |
| The need to tell untold stories of diverse Texans, especially since so many aren't taught in school and that's becoming even more true with classroom censorship and book bans that targets communities of color. |
| The need for a new name seems obvious to all groups. No one wants to visit an “Institute.” |
| A museum of the future can tell stories from our diverse heritage that address growing issues of sustainability and resilience with respect to both environment and culture — addressing how we have gotten to where we are in terms of global existential crisis, and what lessons from our past have to add to finding ways forward. |
| Keeping the facility where it is; more immersive exhibits; better utilization of the facility for community education; vamped up museum aspect. |
| Focusing on the museum as an institution instead of a building. The museum needs and deserves a better more efficient, and exhibit worthy space. Current building is not welcoming, too large and very disconnected from rest of hemisfair. Accessibility is an issue as well. |
| I like new branding, that the space should be for creating connection and content — not just reading and looking at content, that there needs to be a new space that can accommodate all the features and programming identified (including Smithsonian quality shows), and move the archives. |
| Need a new building with a metaverse approach for interactive displays. |
| Many recommendations offered in past, but lack of resources prevented implementation. What plans for raising money? Serious problems with UTSA Development office. |
| I think you should be thinking how to improve the institute now. In 42 years most of us won’t be here and a new group will have their own ideas. We need to put effort into now and the next couple of years. |
| Keeping Texas history at the forefront. Incorporating the many cultures that create Texas. |
| I like the idea of PK-12th grade students having FREE access to the ITC, as well as offering FREE admission hours for locals on certain days. It also makes sense to ensure the historical archives are stored properly and preserved. |
| That in-person visitors should not be the only people to experience the exhibits and resources at the ITC. Culture isn't only the nationalities of the people who came to settle in Texas — there are intersections of culture not represented in the current exhibits. There are opportunities for research and education that are currently unexplored. So much more is possible than what the ITC is now — the vision for growth, development, change, future, technology, research, and all the possibilities have been neglected in the past 50 years. Let's not waste the next 50 years in doing the same thing. |
| I think it’s brilliant to bring back what was so special about Hemisfair. Holding festivals and expansion of large gathering spaces, indoor and outdoor. I also think it's important to connect the history of displacement. Somehow naturally do this by your recommendation of connecting to outside/green spaces to support programming (love the idea of connecting to river). I'd just further add to adequate facilities to support the festivals at Hemisfair, and to become a model of environmental sustainability. |
| The idea of a dynamic, centrally located museum facility that could be expanded on an incremental basis with emergent technologies. A more compact, VR and AR based museum experience linked to a larger schedule of festivals and events could support a more virtual, less physical and better located facility. This would allow the Hemisfair building to be sold to expand the vision of Hemisfair as a residential, commercial and tourist site. |
| Providing non-biased Texas history to supplement Texas Education Standards. More interactive displays. |
| TC it is important to preserve and keep Texas history alive whether it is perceived as good or bad. Political correctness should have no part in erasing history or historical statues. |
| Fully engaging the community, promoting social dialogue, and collective action. |
| New building, new name! |
| Creating a rebranding effort is a great idea in conjunction with the expanded programing and a new functional facility that is engaging and inviting to the community and provides a natural place for people to gather, experience and create culture. Become a HUB for all things Texas Culture, learning, experiencing, creating and researching. |
| Expand the name and mission to reflect the position w/in Hemisfair park and include much more robust Pan-American involvement. |
| There's no reason why the ITC cannot have the same cachet as the Smithsonian in Washington. There needs to be something drawing visitors there besides "reading" about cultures at kiosks. Perhaps some real museum quality things of value. In addition, perhaps the University can create classroom space where a semester from one of the degree programs can be completed. |
| Keep museum at Hemisfair but put up a new state of the art building that would have designated space for the museum and archives. Connect to rest of Hemisfair and convention center. Leverage that traffic, have a cafe/restaurant in the museum as well and a kitchen that could showcase different gastronomy from around Texas. |
| Really beef up digital opportunities, both in person and virtual. Make it possible for visitors to digitally dress up like a historic figure. Use AI for guests to be able to have conversations with historic figures. Host conversations with well known speakers who are part of Texas culture — Matthew McConaughey, Beyonce, Carol Burnett, Eva Longoria, Dan Rather, etc. |
| Instead of a 50 year goal, a series of smaller time frames with quantifiable goals. Few if any of us will be alive 50 years from now, not to mention the fact that life will be very different 50 years from now. |
| I would definitely involve the ITC in every holiday possible as a way of promoting its existence/attraction (fiesta). Connect the ITC more to UTSA by having professors promote its events. As a student I never heard any professors promoting the ITC. The ITC is next to Alamodome, so perhaps have (paid for) support parties for the football players. Lastly get big money involved. |
| The building is historic and must be preserved and updated. The current site is close to the center of visitor activity in San Antonio (i.e. Hemisfair, Tower, and Alamo. It and Alamodome should be considered part of UTSA Downtown campus. Museum building and exhibits need upgrades after 50 years but need to be preserved at present site. It needs semi independent management and foundation to be economically viable and able to evolve and prosper in the future. |
| Build a new extraordinary purpose built center. |
| Start a vigorous fundraising campaign to support the future of the ITC both for a new facility and educational programs to be housed there. Resources to highlight the ITC and its importance to San Antonio’s future should reach across Texas using a marketing strategy that touches all income groups and demographics to be aware of the ITC and its mission. Funds to coordinate with the visitors bureau would be great. |
| Seek to trade with the city for the courthouse on Frio street. Move the museum to that location. It is close to UTSA downtown campus and UTSA can create a larger footprint in the down town area. |
| Live reenactments. |
| Open the museum. (Editor’s note: The Institute of Texan Cultures re-opened Sept. 16, 2021.) |
| Include environmental history, artistic history, and intellectual histories of the state. Broad community-based strategies that center inclusion and equity within the initiatives, staffing, and audience focus. |
| Facilities to teach and hone student skills regarding preservation and display of artifacts; I began visiting Hemisfair while it was still under construction because I was friends with someone who was an advisor. I, and my family, have been fans of ITC since, even when we lived far away from San Antonio. We have been fans and visitors to many Folklife Festivals and have often spread the word about the Festival and San Antonio. We now are once again living in San Antonio and are heartened by the efforts to revitalize and bring the ITC into the 21st century so many more people around the world can learn more about Texas and its people than just what they see in the movies or read in Western novels. |
| Traveling tours as well as opportunities to bring students to San Antonio and the Institute. |
| I think there’s a way to revitalize what the ITC could be outside of the Texas pavilion. I think the Texas pavilion has opportunities outside the scope of what ITC is. The museum needs a space that it can function properly like a museum but also function as the hub of where collections and archives are able to be stored properly and safely. |
| Level the Texas Pavilion and create a new complex worthy of the purpose. |
| A fully functioning restaurant instead of a cafe. |
| Windows. More interesting items to display. Connection to all Texan cultures, not just cowboys. Our story is more diverse. |
| A road show component and more information about its digital offerings. |
| Speakers — Texas history, local interest such as the aquifer — what it is and importance. Traveling exhibits — that would draw people in. Excellent exhibits and lighting throughout the building Excellent Audio and video. Freshen up, lighten up interior and exterior. Staff to manage and attract docents |
| Tear the building down and replace it. Recycle what can be recycled, for those sentimental folks. Possibly keep a similar shape with updated architecture. Make everything brighter and more inviting. Don't change locations. People know where it is already. Make parking easier to find. |
| Qualified museum professionals should be hired to spearhead the MOTF. |
| A new building downtown or at the 1604 campus. |
| Lessen the Baby Boomer influence on the museum's direction. Their idealism and capacity for new ideas crested in the 70s. Speak the language of the present and future, not the past. That means boomers have to step aside. It is only way to achieve long term health. |
| Exhibitions/programs should be about culture, not ethnic groups. |
| Inequities created by lack of respect for variations in language use could be remedied by ITC with a focus on Texas's rich multi-cultural, linguistic heritage Every culture brings a wealth of ways to think and perceive to the English language as those variations become part of our culture, but often Standard English is unconsciously, and consciously, used to inhibit bi-lingual students, an artificial standard that can harm and interfere with their ability to think and write. Our museum could inspire respect for treasuring the beautiful variations in Englishes used by each culture by creating interactive displays for visitors to learn about, listen to, and better understand the linguistic patterns in each community. Linguists can describe in these displays the logical and wonderful patterns that may vary from standard English but are rich with history and cultural meaning and must be preserved and honored. "Standard" in Standard English is a myth which such displays could counter. |
| New exhibits!!! Brand new high quality exhibits and rethought exhibits for all the current ones. Also a good exhibit design and fabrication team. The current state of both new and old exhibits are not good. |
| It would be great to have ITC integrated into the walkable downtown. Parking lots and roads block off the current location, no one is going there unless it's absolutely on purpose. |
| Integrate ITC with UTSA and its students. |
| Improve architecture, exhibits, and landscape of the ITC. |
| Provide stipends to people to tell these untold stories which honors oral history that doesn't always get the same recognition (monetary or otherwise) as stories written in academic settings. |
| There seems a consensus in this and the Community Engagement Report that the ITC needs a “new sense of Institutional Relevance;” it is still limiting the discussion of culture to largely race and ethnicity. Unspoken is the plain fact that it devotes too much time to various European cultures. But the report is vague on how to broaden the definition of culture. I think an emphasis on local history holds more promise – and I don’t mean just San Antonio. San Antonio could be an important laboratory for experimenting in local history, but it should be possible to also tell the story of Dallas and McAllen and Fredericksburg and Ozona. This would set the Institute apart from the other state history museums, and offers a means to better connect with communities across the state, not just San Antonio. I was surprised to see how little attention any of the reports made to the implications for museums in a digital age. |
| Design and build a new facility along Museum Reach or somewhere in the core downtown preferably taking over a surface parking lot. |
| Build a new building and extend Riverwalk to terminate at new building. Free Via pass with admission. |
| If money was not an issue, I would make access to the museum FREE to all. Sharing the complete, non-biased history of Texas is such important work. |
| I would build all new exhibit areas for the permanent and special exhibits, and make sure there are ample classroom spaces for both the PK-12th grade visitors, and UTSA students to use, that are equipped with the latest technology. Proper restroom and kitchen/food service areas would also be added, as well as a loading dock and high ceilings so that large installations could be brought in. |
| I'd start to attract the demographics that didn't get to grow up in the eras that did know and think fondly of Hemisfair. There are so many pockets of opportunities to provide outdoor areas to engage in family fun activities, but also engage our community along the lines of music and other cultural arts. That's a really lovely area downtown, and I love the new playground area near the Tower of the Americas, and the expansion that has happened there. |
| Unlimited resources are what got us into this problem in the first place, so I would be wary. Since the modern world requires less physical institution-building, resources need to be directed to technology, community outreach and partnerships that can leverage more events associated with the ITC. |
| Since the San Antonio Government removed the 100 year old statue of William Barrett Travis at Travis Park in the middle of the night in 2017, it should be relocated to ITC because William Barrett Travis was the Mayor of San Antonio during the Civil War and he deeded the land to the City of San Antonio that is known as “Travis Park.” |
| Education programs and research on the exhibitions. Also, make the pool and water fountain in front of the building function again especially for special occasions. |
| A site master plan should be developed for the ITC property and building in Hemisfair Park. The current Texas Pavilion building should be demolished along with the berm, and replaced with a new structure and property. The new building should be designed to pay homage to the historical relevance and architecture and even possibly incorporate some of the original reclaimed materials and features of the ’68 Texas Pavilion. Significant consideration should be given to the ULI report recommendation to develop a horseshoe building housing the UTSA School of Hospitality and Hotel with the Avenue of Flags and food truck parking, which would also be a more effective venue for the Texas Folklife Festival and other events. |
Community Engagement & Sustaining Support Task Force Survey Responses
| I believe clearly defining the role and relationship between UTSA and the ITC is key to attracting greater support from the community. Expanding the number of festivals in order to create more revenue is also a great idea. |
| Finding partnerships and building them. Looking for common ground and finding opportunity there. |
| I'd further expand on how to recognize the important role of the Institute’s K-12 student audience in terms of community engagement and as an opportunity to fund its ongoing educational programming. |
| The importance of building a slate of festivals connected to ITC, since the existing Folklife Festival accounts for much of the annual patronage. A more compact and more advanced facility in a central location can generate more financial support. |
| How much recommendations mirror previous reports. |
| What resonated with me in regards to the Community Engagement and Sustaining Support recommendations is the actual practice of making ITC attractive enough to engage the community. This is important in order to gain support both population wise and financially. We have to make people believe in the ITC and that's certainly by engaging them. What does the community want to see? |
| See above. There needs to be a foundation and semi-independent management to grow and prosper. |
| I like the recommendations to gain regular memberships and an effort to include all the cultures that have contributed to Texas. So many new cultures have begun to have a positive influence in the decades since the ITC opened. To continue to update exhibits is important. Allowing community groups from across Texas to use the grounds and facility to showcase their culture will enhance the image of the ITC. It is important that UTSA continue with the festivals. |
| I would appreciate seeing the ITC cultivate/sustain relationships with culturally-based museums and collection sites throughout San Antonio and the surrounding area such as the San Antonio African American Community Archive & Museum, Mexican Cultural Institute San Antonio, and the Holocaust Memorial Museum of San Antonio. |
| The emphasis on sustainability. I am concerned that the UTSA is not foregrounded in this conversation as presented in this video. As a Tier One university, being an educational presence in their community through the ITC seems like not only a natural fit, but a duty. The city has given the University so much, and frankly asked for little in return. |
| Do not think only about drawing in Texans; people around the world have interest in Texas; like free admission to Bexar county residents, including school groups; think non-profit foundation is good; like continuation of Folklife Festival and possibility of other festivals. |
| Public/Private events responding to current trends. |
| I feel the recommendations weren't anything out of the ordinary of what is expected of a culture museum. |
| The need to connect and engage with local visitors and recognizing the role of the ITC in education. |
| Renaming the ITC. Offering permanent and rotating exhibits. Community partnerships. |
| Clear agreement / understanding of roles and duties in regards to fundraising by volunteers and the university. |
| Not sure which group made which recommendations. But field trips for schools are key. If you visit as a child, sometimes you fall in love and return as an adult and bring your own children, nieces or nephews back with you so important to get the interest while visitors are young. The children I brought with me love the cowboy and Native American exhibits and hands-on trying to make fire or sit in a saddle. |
| Making ITC more visible in HemisFair park. |
| UTSA needs to establish what the plan will be going forward, then determine what it will cost, and how the ITC, donors, the University, and the state will split the cost. |
| The Institute’s reputation has not been strongly established among newcomers to the region and, for many, is based more on memories than on the ITC’s current standing. |
| Our classes can work to tell the stories of the cultural landmarks which might be turned into future displays. At a time of great gentrification, telling these stories might prevent some of the loss communities will suffer as San Antonio grows at such a fast pace. |
| The idea that ITC is perceived as San Antonio centric when it was always meant to be fully Texan and fully worldwide. There's so much great potential but so little community engagement. The museums in San Antonio are so popular, except for this one. |
| Make much of the collection available online to attract a larger audience and move ITC special collections to UTSA Special Collections Library. |
| I appreciate that the task force makes educational programming for K-12 audiences a funding priority. |
| The report does not give enough attention to the support that the University can offer – as discussed in the Museum of the Future report: internships and joint faculty appointments will make a difference and they would not be that expensive. It also only seems fair that school districts should provide some funding instead of sending their students for free. The Education Department should be expanded to make sure more of the museum content connects with the curriculum for the 4th and 7th grades. |
| Needs to involve a wide array of ethnicities and must have community support, contributions, sponsorships, donations. |
| Leveraging university resources, the museum has operated independent and has been neglected in these terms. University has a lot to offer in terms of fundraising while museum has a lot of community partnerships that they could benefit from. UTSA needs to own up and prioritize fundraising for the museum. This means supporting staff and funding of positions as well. Other thing is to remember the museum only recently became Very San Antonio focused. It can still be that but it also needs to reach out to the rest of Texas and build relationships and programming beyond San Antonio. There's a reason why it's called the Institute of "TEXAN" Cultures. Not San Antonio Cultures. This is a big opportunity for museum to return to its roots and UTSA to lead. |
| Nothing stands out. It all makes good sense. |
| Getting the University to take an active role in running the ITC, not just maintaining. |
| It is good to have community engagement because what happened in 2017 by removing the statue of William Merritt Travis at Travis Park. The community could not vote in a ballot had no say in the matter. It was a disgrace what happened to his historical statue especially because Travis was the Mayor of San Antonio and donated the land to the City of San Antonio. |
| Keep up the partnership with the Smithsonian. |
| Not opposed to developing property as a revenue stream for ITC. |
| Create a place and programing which instills a sense of pride in the ITC as a destination that is a must-see for visitors to San Antonio. Make the exhibits and offerings relevant and continually growing and improving. |
| Ensure the festivals are kept and thrive. The festivals are the heart of the Institute. This may mean that for the first few years the university may need to step up and provide additional funding, resources, fundraising, to restart these. How well they are done will dictate how the community re engages with the museum. Doing something well means taking a risk and truly supporting it with resources at least until the museum builds up its own funding up again. |
| An outdoor theatre would be wonderful. Live music and events that celebrate the culture of Texas offered regularly. Activate that great tourist base in the area. Public restrooms in the outdoor area would also be ideal. |
| If there is some way to "intentionally develop lasting relationships with students and their extended families," I'd invest resources toward that. I believe that "programming for K-12 audiences in museums should be a focus for funding priority." Invite speakers and interactive events for children and even families. There's a missed opportunity for using the facilities there for learning. I'd love to see camps that are focused on culture and history, that are available and attainable to the public. |
| In addition to everything oven mentioned before I would add inviting guest speakers with status and get media involved. |
| Add ethnic food kiosks/restaurants and shops in basement or adjacent area both to attract visitors and for fund raising. Add classrooms in unused space and create Masters programs in museum management, Ethnic studies, and Texas History to emphasize academic role and value. |
| Design the new facility with multiple flex spaces for community groups to use for educating visitors about their culture and contribution to Texas. Grants to assist these groups to travel and set up their exhibits and presentations would be wonderful. Exhibit space would be incorporated indoors and outdoors for various events to be staged. |
| Expand Folk Life and Asian Festival to the main campus for 2023. Use BK1 and BK2 to host the festivals similar to the Best Fest event. |
| Opportunities for assistantships, internships, and expanded knowledge integration into K-16 classrooms. |
| An extensive community impact study on engagement with primary interviews as well as general surveys. |
| The ITC requires more education and outreach staff to get the ITC out in the local and statewide community. The current staff have a wide range of ideas of what educational programming could be but are limited with persons and functional space. |
| There is a need to connect people to the ITC. Connect with influencers and advocates to promote the mission and convey the relevance of the ITC to new generations. |
| higher utilization of the grounds for events and programming or move to a location that can be more accessible to the community. This location is a bit cut off from Hemisfair. |
| How does the ITC show up in different cities to showcase local culture? |
| Texas State Legislature, who makes appropriations for ITC, needs a new resolution to increase funding for repair, renovation, or relocation of the building. The budget has been stagnant for too long. |
| A fundamental assumption of this process is that the Institute will ultimately shift away from a financial model entirely dependent on state funding and operate with a mix of government and University support, earned revenue and contributions, and ultimately an endowment, consistent with other best practice university-affiliated museums. |
| The recommendations are vague to the point of almost being useless. We all agree the ITC should "build and sustain a measurable sense of awareness and community pride for the ITC among San Antonians and Texans." The real question is how will the ITC build that awareness? Who will be responsible for making the ITC "top of mind"? No money or interest in serving on an advisory board will come to the ITC if there's not a radical refresh. |
| Not relying on "soft money" grants as the recommendations suggest. |
| Rethinking the stale Folklife Festival. |
| A new building. Full stop. |
| A leader that has vision and imagination, and has the latitude to use their expertise to make consequential decisions. A leader that knows how to run a business. A leader who can say "no" to bad ideas. |
| Get one of the many politicians who claim to love the place to stop grandstanding and spend that energy to raise recurring money instead. |
| I would love for every student at UTSA to find a way to work on a project for ITC perhaps related to their own culture or one they would love to study. Every field would benefit from this work, and this work could bring our entire university together. |
| Far more money on marketing, outreach. |
| Improve architecture, exhibits, and landscape of the ITC. |
| Collaborate with and provide financial support to local nonprofits to help bring the museum to the community rather than just rely on the field trip model, which can be limiting especially in the context of scarce school resources and a teacher shortage. |
| To achieve greater coordination with the University, it will need to recruit academics who know how to connect with the public, not many in the faculty currently do or care to. Need to find faculty with a foot in both worlds who are also entrepreneurial. |
| Development of a linear tunnel museum between the main downtown UTSA campus and the new Cyber building that would go under the highway and create a unique connecting environment that would be an attraction in itself. |
| Hire professional staff. ITC is a business and should be managed as one, not as a department within a department. It is going to take a great deal of engaged personnel to implement all the recommendations. |
| Replace the statue of William Merritt Travis if it got destroyed when they removed it. |
| More research into different ways to keep the community engaged. |
| Consider a modernized version of the dome show, which captures the nostalgia while allowing for a functional and adaptable exhibition and event space. An installation on glass or hidden panels in the ceiling/walls where other media could be presented as well in a flexible exhibit space, not just limited to the dome show. |
Facility & Land Stewardship Task Force Survey Responses
| The ITC’s current facility is insufficient for any future vision of the ITC as an accredited museum under the American Alliance of Museums (AAM); establish a new, attractive, appropriately-designed facility that accommodates functions and uses of the Institute. Hemisfair Civic Park was identified as an alternative, permanent location for the Folk Life Festival. The University is able to appropriately store and make readily accessible the current historical collection of photos and resources (as well as future anticipated acquisitions) to researchers and public. The ITC has appropriate and modern facilities to support music, film, live performances, lectures, cooking instruction, and other cultural engagement activities. The ITC facility should have multiple points of entry, and a degree of transparency that permits visibility into the space so it is fully connected to surrounding area. |
| It sounds like UTSA needs to decide if the ITC is to be an AAM accredited museum or not. If it does, it seems like the museum should be housed in a new location, that is still in the HemisFair Park area. |
| The need to separate the ITC from the future of the building and site (that may have been in the ULI recommendations). Fulfilling the mission of the ITC does not depend on being located in the current structure. I also saw in the ULI report that the Federal Courthouse Building (round building, also Hemisfair structure) would be considered as a location for the new ITC physical location. I hope not. It is a lovely thought to reuse the old structure, HOWEVER it is the same age as the Texas Pavilion and highly likely to require the same amount of expenditure to bring to AMA Accreditation standards. And potentially deferred maintenance costs would be similar (unless the federal government has done a better job of maintaining and updating the infrastructure of the building). |
| I too think the location is ideal to “host social events” and “partner with food trucks and hold happy hours,” as well as hosting “concerts, live events, special or exclusive invitations [such as] after dark events, premiere events for new exhibits, etc.” |
| Facilities and Land Stewardship is yet another important portion of this discussion and resonates with me in its efforts to preserve the ITC's physical presence in regards to the development of the area. Many people are moving to San Antonio who may not be invested in the ITC and having the building standing in their newly developed neighborhoods. |
| Not much. I believe current building and site are important to preserve. Building does need to be modernized but it can be done in stages if necessary. |
| Current facilities are suboptimal. |
| Funding a new facility that is accredited and offers a design that attracts more visitors and space for community events such as the Texas Folklife Festival. It would be nice if a new facility could be incorporated into the new plans for Hemisfair to enhance the park and maintain a presence downtown. |
| Move locations due to the building being out of date and asbestos in the walls. |
| I'm an architect and a former municipal redevelopment officer, and I find this section of the video unfocused and quite possibly irresponsible. It cannot be contingent upon the ITC to be all things to all people, and if it tried to achieve all these disparate goals (multiple restaurants and retail shops, etc), it will fail, especially in the current location. The ITC must integrate with the incredibly rich setting of downtown San Antonio, especially La Villita (whose purpose is highly resonant with the ITC's)! I understand that UTSA has withheld the massive but poorly-used ITC property from master planning exercises to date. Every task force mentioned revenue streams, and they're only going to be effective to the extent the ITC is part of the city, not a literal walled bastion. Have a vision for the neighborhood before you start programming a building! |
| Do not think we should think "small." Sustainability should be emphasized. No food trucks, except during festivals. Should not be considered "entry point" to UTSA even though allied with UTSA; it is separate experience for visitors. |
| Enhancing access; surrounding Institute with shared spaces; NOT relocating! |
| The recommendations didn’t offer much insight beyond what has been expressed over and over regarding the space and location. |
| Establish a new attractive appropriately designed facility that accommodates functions of the ITC and expand festivals and cultural events. |
| A beautifully designed facility, as the current facility looks dated and has little landscaping. |
| I appreciate looking beyond the 2 hour / 60 mile radius. |
| Throughout the discussions related to the creation of flexible space in relation to leveraging the use of land, an emphasis was placed on the need for accreditation. Beyond an ideal optimal situation, it is required for the space to meet AAM accreditation standards in order to be successful in the future as a museum. |
| All the recs are good. Who pays for it? |
| Preservation of cultural landmarks in San Antonio throughout the community, and specifically those that elevate the fight for social justice and labor rights, should be one of our highest priorities. |
| Loved it, I think right on target. Needs flexible spaces to support community engagement. Needs to be accessible and surrounded by attractors. If that means moving, I support the decision. |
| Make much of the collection available online to attract a larger audience and move ITC special collections to UTSA Special Collections Library. |
| I'm glad the task force got real and doesn't bury its head in the sand that the current building is structurally flawed and we need a different building. |
| I was on the task force, so I like it all. |
| The understanding that AAM accreditation becomes more possible if the existing building is sold to developers and a centrally located, much smaller facility is developed or adapted. This would allow an incremental approach to museum development that would require less capital outlay than a wholesale rehab of the existing building, while connecting to new audience such as tourists and downtown workers. A new location could be achieved with better access to downtown, tourists, and most importantly the UTSA campus. |
| The need to upgrade the facility to accommodate an interactive museum and cultural festivals. It is wonderful the ITC Facilities and Land Stewardship is preserving Texas History of the good and bad parts of history to teach future generations and learn from history. |
| The different flags in front of the museum and exhibition houses in the back of the museum. Love all their recommendations. Appreciate their transparency in sharing community feedback. Keep museum at same site. Remodel. |
| Create content and physical spaces and features which draw the community into the ITC area. At a minimum the area should provide for attendees to spend at least a half day in the area exploring multiple programs and offerings. The ITC collections should be located where the space can become AAM Accredited. The programing should provide for experiential learning about Texas Culture as well as be a place for research and scholarly endeavors, and lifelong learning to flourish. |
| Move the ITC into a new modern building closer to the DT campus or in the heart of Hemisfair park, rather than off to itself. |
| So it is a good idea to involve and engage the people. Having community events and/or promoting a secondary education (UTSA) to the children through fun activities. Offer free classes to the community to learn various subjects. Unlocked alumni to give classes, preservations, hold events. |
| Emphasize folklore and crafts with live volunteer led demonstration and classes as well as adding video and inter-active exhibits. Host traveling exhibits and charge admission for them. |
| Have a bold vision for the existing ITC building or tear it down. |
| With unlimited resources, I would build a world-class facility with an inviting grounds / landscape on the spaces of land soon to be vacated by the federal government. That would allow more visibility. With unlimited resources I would design a new ITC that becomes a landmark itself with a nod to the past and maybe some sort of influence from the Tower of the Americas. Public art spaces surrounding the new building would be fantastic along with spaces that allow temporary or traveling exhibits. |
| Expand the UTSA area for the downtown campus. Add areas for the museum and special collections/archives. |
| Do not scrimp on ideas or funding because that will only result in a waste of money, time, and reputation. |
| A comprehensive impact study that would use multiple matrices and weighted goals - is accreditation under the American Alliance of Museums the most valuable metric for the overall vision? Would restoration and LEED certification have greater total benefit to the mission, the community and the resilience of the facility? I firmly believe that maintaining the Institute's presence in the heart of Downtown is of primary value. |
| The building's deferred maintenance costs are astronomical, should the Texas Pavilion be a building that is preserved it would serve better as an event/convention type space. Its location is prime for events and conventions and would serve as a perfect permanent home for the festivals. The Museum needs a new space to be able to reach its full potential. |
| Create more traffic to the facility by hosting more events at the venue. Celebrate the many cultures in a series of mini festivals held monthly or bi-monthly. Promote a new multipurpose facility for meetings and special events to increase traffic. |
| Modern contemporary architecture from a Texas-based firm integrating native stone with other materials. Outdoor spaces could integrate statues and fountains created by Texan artists, and landscaping would feature native area plants. |
| Better location to allow more access. It’s in a corner no one really goes to. |
| How do you create a San Antonian in residence space where members of the public can just come hang out, work remotely, create or spend time in the space even if it is not explicitly part of an event or ITC venue rental? |
| The museum and the ITC in general have been treated as an "afterthought" by this and previous administrations. The University talks a great game when it talks about "inclusiveness." The ITC has never been "included"! |
| New building. |
| I would love to see everyone on campus learning interview skills to help tell these stories. |
| Would be nice to keep the historic building, but with a complete overhaul. True connection with Hemisfair and the Tower of the Americas and Convention Center, probably requiring pedestrian paths, greenspaces, and the demolition/rerouting of parking lots. But that would really require unlimited resources. |
| Ensuring the new building is built in a way that keeps our community safe during a continuing pandemic |
| I was disappointed that the museum of the future task force was the only task force that truly addressed the building. That building has nostalgia and many great memories for many. But if the museum is to survive and thrive, it needs a new building. Keeping it at Hemisfair should help honor some of that legacy and connecting it to the rest of Hemisfair is a real opportunity. If the rest of the property can be monetized and percentage of that funding is committed to the "new" museum that should also help the museum get back on its feet, have some sustainability, and thrive. |
| I would move the museum from the Texas Pavilion to a brand new, state-of-the-art facility and store the archives in a secure, secondary location that would ensure they are safe, yet still accessible. |
| A new building designed specifically to meet the AMA Accreditation requirements and to better care for the collections and artifacts stored for the Institute. |
| What guarantees from administration that ITC will endure. After most of staff was fired last year, administration trust is at a low point. |
| How we "contribute positively to vision of Hemisfair and the ongoing vitalization of downtown" resonates with me, and I think if resources were available, I think it's definitely worth investing in "strategies to leverage the use of land to generate resources to advance ITC’s success and sustainability in 2068." |
| Again, unlimited resources lead to poor decisions. A sustainable vision is built with experience over time, just as a sustainable museum is built with experiential interpretation constantly revisited over time. |
| Connect the ITC to the rest of Hemisfair plaza as it was designed. Be an active partner to improve the entire Hemisfair area. |
| It would be nice for the Alamo and ITC to ask the Illinois National Guard Museum in Springfield, Illinois if the Alamo and ITC could borrow Santa Anna’s wooden leg display during the annual Commemoration honoring the anniversary of the 1836 Battle of the Alamo during the months of February, March and ITC could borrow it in April. |
| The Spanish Governors Palace has rich San Antonio and Texas history. On March 9, 1731, sixteen families from the Spanish Canary Islands arrived at San Antonio de Béxar, near the banks of the San Antonio River. The names of the 16 Spanish Canary Island Families are listed in the Spanish Governors Palace. It would nice to have photos and information at ITC. |
| Add more trees. |
| Design a new building and grounds to enrich and grow the ITC programing and Texas Folklife Festival, as well as additional cultural events and offerings throughout the year that highlight the rich depth and breadth of Texas cultures. Consider aligning these events with specific cultural awareness such as Black History Month and Hispanic Heritage Month. |
