The Institute of Texan Cultures (ITC) is happy to announce the appointment of Bianca Alvarez as the new head curator. As a UTSA alumna and former faculty member, Alvarez brings a wealth of experience and a deep connection to the San Antonio community. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and a master’s in art history and criticism, she has spent the last five years as a public arts manager with the City of San Antonio’s Department of Arts and Culture. Her extensive experience in curating and managing public art projects makes her an invaluable addition to the ITC as it embarks on a transformative journey to redefine its space and mission.
As head curator, she will provide leadership for ITC exhibits, from concept to installation, collaborate across the UTSA Libraries & Museums division, with UTSA students and faculty, and with community stakeholders to create holistic museum experiences that showcase Texas’s diverse cultural tapestry.
“This is such an exciting time to be joining the Institute of Texan Cultures,” Alvarez said. “Not many institutions or museums get the opportunity to reinvent themselves, and there is so much potential.”
She added, “I am absolutely thrilled to be part of the team that reimagines the ITC within the context of what a 21st-century museum looks like and how it should function. It gives us the chance to take the lead, be creative and innovative in its exhibits and programming while highlighting a more inclusive human experience.”
Emphasizing the importance of community engagement, she said, “We aim to serve our community and learners of all ages—here and beyond.”
As the institute moves into its new space at Frost Tower, Alvarez will have the opportunity to experiment with thematic presentations and dynamic storytelling, receptive to public input for concepts to carry into the next iteration of the ITC. She also aims to build partnerships to expand the ITC’s reach into the community and outside of San Antonio. In the longer term, she looks toward the American Association of Museums accreditation and establishing the new ITC at its permanent location.
Outside the office, Alvarez continues to express herself creatively – whether in the art studio and kitchen. She finds inspiration through her own investigation of cultural identity and as a woman and mother. That translates in the kitchen where she learned to prepare traditional Mexican dishes from the matriarchs in her family. From chicken mole to enchiladas and chile relleno—making perfectly fluffy rice and charro beans is an art. Her family insists that she bottle and sell her cilantro jalapeño salsa.