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Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation remains steadfast to MOU terms at School of Architecture at Taliesin

Expiration of memorandum this summer to end School of Architecture

Posted 3/17/20

The memorandum of understanding between the School of Architecture at Taliesin and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation will end unequivocally July 31 --- despite recent efforts by the school’s …

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Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation remains steadfast to MOU terms at School of Architecture at Taliesin

Expiration of memorandum this summer to end School of Architecture

Posted

The memorandum of understanding between the School of Architecture at Taliesin and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation will end unequivocally July 31 --- despite recent efforts by the school’s Board of Governors to the contrary.

Based in Wisconsin and Arizona, the School of Architecture at Taliesin is at 12621 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd. in north Scottsdale, which is widely regarded as Frank Lloyd Wright’s desert laboratory housing the school for nearly 90 years.

On March 5, the School of Architecture at Taliesin Board of Governors voted to keep the educational entity open seeking to find new lease terms with Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation leadership.

Officials at Chicago-based Kirkland & Ellis LLP --- which is representing the Board of Governors in the matter --- originally reported new funding was secured for the school’s future.

No additional funding has materialized, officials familiar with the matter contend.

However, the School of Architecture cites two factors worthy of consideration for a new MOU to be crafted:

  • Students have come forward and voiced concerns; and
  • The board confirmed that its financial situation is such that it has long-term viability, especially in light of new support that has come forward since January of this year.

Outgoing School of Architecture President, Aaron Betsky, contends the Board of Governors is acting in good faith.

“As you may have heard, Stuart Graff, head of the Foundation, announced March 14 that the Foundation Board has decided not to renew our Memorandum of Understanding. They claim that was a decision they made recently; in fact, they told us their position on Jan. 25,” he said in a prepared statement provided to Independent Newsmedia Tuesday, March 17.

“They also claim that we have not provided them with any plans or showed them a viable path forward.”

Mr. Betsky says support for the continuation of the School of Architecture at Taliesin in north Scottsdale is strong --- something foundation leadership is not considering.

“They are also ignoring the enthusiastic and unanimous support from the Fellows, the tens of thousands of people who have expressed their desire for the school to continue, the plea from the Arizona Private and Post-Secondary Education Committee Board for mediation, and the confidence our banks and supporters have put in us,” he said.

“The School Board of Governors is currently preparing an appropriate response.”
Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Board of Trustees Chairman T.K. McClintock, in his March 15 letter to School of Architecture leaders, confirmed the foundation’s stance on the matter.

“On Jan. 25, 2020 the school voted to close --- without the participation of the Foundation representatives to the school’s board --- and to announce its decision through the media,” Mr. McClintock.

“The Foundation first learned of the school’s March 5 vote to revoke that decision by a press release issued moments after the vote. The Foundation takes very seriously its mission to preserve Taliesin and Taliesin West for future generations and inspire society through an understanding and experience of Frank Lloyd Wright’s ideas, architecture and design, as well as its responsibility to perpetuate the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright.”

Mr. McClintock has informed the School of Architecture the foundation is pursuing its own efforts to develop new programs to support the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright.

“The Board of the Foundation has unanimously determined that the Foundation will allow the MOU with the school to expire by its own terms on July 31, 2020. This decision is final,” he said.

“We suggest that the personnel from the Foundation, school, and TPI who participate in the monthly operations meeting transition that meeting to address the issues relating to the expiration of the MOU and the departure from the Taliesin campuses.”