Westcott Gala features keynote by the great-granddaughter of Frank Lloyd Wright

Westcott House Foundation will celebrate 20 years of the Frank Lloyd Wright house being saved, restored and open to the public on Friday, November 21, at 6 p.m. at the  Hollenbeck Bayley Creative Arts and Conference Center, 275 S Limestone St. 

“Our Gala happens only every 5 years,” says Marta Wojcik, Westcott House executive director & curator, “And we were robbed of this opportunity in 2020 due to pandemic, which makes this year’s occasion all the more special.” 

This year, the event’s significance is compounded by the fact that Melissa Galt, the great-granddaughter of iconic American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, will deliver a keynote. Melissa is passionate about honoring Wright’s vision and protecting his work as a vital part of America’s cultural heritage. 

“As his great-granddaughter, I view Frank Lloyd Wright’s legacy as an invitation to live with courage and imagination,” says Galt. “He showed us that creativity is not confined to art and architecture, but expressed in every choice we make. His Westcott House masterpiece calls each of us to think independently, act intentionally, and shape our world with the same fearless vision that he harnessed throughout his work.” 

Galt is an interior design business strategist and marketing consultant. Her business empowers designers to build profitable, fulfilling firms with clarity and confidence. She considers all the possibilities within the world of design through the prism of her great-grandfather’s approach. 

“Frank Lloyd Wright designed more than buildings; he designed a way of living. Each of his creations invites us to see beauty in structure, purpose in geometry, and courage in individuality,” she says. “Expanding his legacy means empowering every person to live as he designed: authentically, artfully, and without compromise.” 

Westcott House was saved through the cooperative efforts of the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy, the Turner Foundation and the Westcott House Foundation, a non-profit that continues to operate the house to this day. Over 600 volunteers, craftsmen, supporters, and professionals with incredible expertise and commitment came together to save the landmark. Currently, over 100 volunteers continue to help run the museum, including guiding tours, managing the gift shop, doing research and governing the organization through board service. 

“Over the last 20 years, many people in this region developed much appreciation for this landmark,” says Wojcik. “As board members, docents, volunteers, donors, members, program participants and instructors, many have established a deep personal connection to our site. This house thrives  because of all the people who care deeply and passionately about what this iconic building represents.” 

Galt also considers the people the cornerstone of carrying the Wright’s legacy. 

“I want to meet the people who have supported the Westcott House,” she says. “I want to see the house, of course, but to me, it is the people that make it all possible. When we expand Wright’s legacy, we expand the human spirit of innovation he embodied. Supporting the Westcott House isn’t about the past, instead, it’s about empowering future visionaries to think differently, create  daringly, and live in harmony with design and nature.” 

Since 2005, the Westcott House has been a source of inspiration for thousands of people. As a cultural tourism site, it has served as an economic driver for our region. As a community resource, it has brought together people of diverse backgrounds to advance the role that art, architecture, and design play in our lives. The Gala creates an opportunity to reflect on the last 20 years of the Westcott House as a community resource. 

In addition to Melissa’s remarks, attendees will enjoy an exhibit of the recent work by architecture students at Miami University and a special presentation by Gary Geis Dance Company. 

For more information or to purchase the tickets, visit westcotthouse.org/programs.