Last updated: 6/23/2011
Corpus Christi, Texas
Address
1902 N. Shoreline Blvd.Corpus Christi, TX 78401
phone: 361-825-3500
fax: 361-825-3520
web: www.stia.org

Hours

Monday Closed
Tuesday - Saturday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Admissions

Adults: $6
Seniors (60+) and active millitary: $4
Students: $2
Children 12 and under: Free

Thursdays free to all visitors.

Museum Type(s)

Art

Staff

Mr. Joseph B. Schenk
phone:
e-mail:
Deborah Fullerton
phone:
e-mail:
Cindy Anderson
phone:
e-mail:
Description

Located in a region where the ethnic majority is Hispanic (55%), the Art Museum of South Texas creates programs that bridge Hispanic, Anglo and other audiences. The Museum is funded through a partnership with Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, the City of Corpus Christi and donations from the private sector.

The original museum facility was designed by leading American architect Philip Johnson, and opened to the public in 1972. A new wing is under construction today - now 75% complete - which has been designed by another internationally recognized architect, Ricardo Legorreta of Mexico City. Legorreta, who received approval from Philip Johnson for his building design, has done an excellent job of matching the original Johnson structure and complimenting it from an architectural standpoint. The combined buildings will double the space currently available for visual arts exhibitions, educational programs and secure storage for our growing permanent collection.

The Legorreta wing, named the William B. and Maureen Miller Building, will be complete in mid-2006. At that time, the Museum will close to the public for a few months in order to begin initial renovations on the Johnson structure and to move into and prepare the new building. The expanded arts complex will re-opening toward the end of the year.

Mission

The mission of the Art Museum of South Texas is to operate educational facilities and an art museum that advance the awareness, knowledge, appreciation and enjoyment of the visual and performing arts. The Museum collects, exhibits, and interprets outstanding works of visual art with a focus on art of the Americas and this region.

History

1945:
Art Museum of South Texas is founded when the City of Corpus Christi turns over its Centennial Museum to a group of local arts organizations

1972:
Art Museum of South Texas opens a new building on the shoreline of Corpus Christi Bay in downtown Corpus Christi, designed by internationally recognized architect, Philip Johnson

1993:
Art Museum of South Texas trustees formally commit to collecting visual art of the Americas, with an emphasis on the arts of the region

1995:
Art Museum of South Texas and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi form a partnership, for the purpose of offering joint programming onsite and outreach educational opportunities

1996:
City of Corpus Christi moves its annual funding allocation for the Art Museum of south Texas from its general operations budget to revenues generated by the Hotel and Motel Tax

1997:
Art Museum of South Texas merges with the Center for Hispanic Arts and the Creative Arts Center to form the South Texas Institute for the Arts. The Museum now offers programs and exhibitions at 2 facilities, the Museum of South Texas on Shoreline Boulevard, and the Antonio E. Garcia Arts Education Center in west Corpus Christi

1999:
Negotations begin with Ricardo Legorreta of Legorreta + Legorreta to design a new wing adjacent to the current Museum structure on Shoreline Boulevard.

2003:
Art Museum of South Texas commits to American western and wildlife art as a new focus area for exhibitions, collections and educational programming

2005:
Art Museum of South Texas completes the "Arts Within Our Reach" capital campaign, securing $8.5 million for the new Legorreta wing

2006:
The expanded arts complex opens.

Artifact Collections

The permanent collection currently contains over 1,000 works of art. The Museum is actively collecting works of art for the permanent collection. A larger vault will be located in the new Legorreta addition.

Research Collections

Please contact the Museum staff for more information. Please note, we have only a small reference library and it is not generally open to the public, but should someone wish to borrow materials from it, they should contact Michelle Locke, Associate Curator, 361-825-3503 or Deborah Fullerton, Associate Curator of Education, 361-825-3505.

Educational Programs

Educational programs are woven into the themes of the annual exhibitions. Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Art Objectives underlie the art education programs of the Institute. Four basic strands - perception, creative expression/performance, historical and cultural heritage, and critical evaluation - provide broad, unifying structures for organizing the knowledge and skills students are expected to acquire.

Students rely on their perceptions of the environment, developed through increasing visual awareness and sensitivity to surroundings, memory, imagination, and life experiences, as a source for creating artworks. They express their thoughts creatively, while challenging their imagination, fostering reflective thinking, and developing disciplined effort and problem-solving skills. By analyzing artistic styles and historical periods, students develop respect for the traditions and contributions of diverse cultures. Students respond to and analyze artworks, thus contributing to the development of lifelong skills of making informed judgments and evaluations.

Programs for youth offered are:

. Arts Education for Corpus Christi Independent School District - 5th Grade and Secondary School Art Students
. Celebrate Literacy Through Dance and Drama - 2nd Grade Program
. ArtReach - Bringing Art to Outlying Rural Schools
. Art Education Teacher Workshops - ArtReach Program
. Visionarios - Discovering Tomorrow Today Youth Art Contest
. Arts-After-School Program
. Moms and Tots Program
. ArtCade Interactive Center
. Kids Club
. Art Camp

Art education activities for adults and families are as follows:

. Sunday Family Fundays
. STIA Docent Program
. Lunch Among the Masters
. Brown Bag Lunch Series
. Art Thursdays
. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi - Museum and Curatorial Practices Course
. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi - Student Internship Program
. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi - Student Docent Program
. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi - Visiting Artist Program Partnership
. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi - Early Childhood Development Program

In addition, teachers of the Corpus Christi Independent School District come for orientation sessions during the year to learn first-hand from our curatorial staff about the importance of the art on display, so that when they bring their classes for tours, they are well prepared.

Publications

We do on occasion publish catalogues to accompany exhibitions. For more information, please contact Michelle Locke, Associate Curator, 361-825-3503 or Deborah Fullerton, Associate Curator of Education, 361-825-3505., Newsletters quarterly for members, exhibition invitations as exhibitions are developed and shown.

Exhibitions
Museum Events
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MUSEUM CONFERENCES

Museum Trustee Association Spring Forum 2024

April 10 - 14, 2024

Atlanta, Georgia

Texas Association of Museums 2024 Lubock Annual Conference

April 14 - 17, 2024

Lubbock, Texas

2024 Colorado-Wyoming ANNUAL MEETING

May 1 - 4, 2024

Worland, Wyoming

West Virginia Association of Museums 2024 Conference

June 6 - 8, 2024

Shepherdstown, West Virginia

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