The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation is continuously embracing new ways to reinvigorate the famed architect’s winter home in Scottsdale, Taliesin West, and this February the World Heritage Site is rolling out an array of new daily tours, cultural programs, and events to offer first-time and returning visitors an opportunity to learn more about Frank Lloyd Wright’s legacy and principles of architecture through a brand-new lens.
With construction beginning in 1938, Taliesin West served as both Wright’s desert laboratory and a place of community, innovation, design, art, and performance. As part of a continued effort to preserve that legacy and advance the Foundation’s mission to inspire the world to discover and embrace architecture for better living through meaningful connections to nature, the arts, and each other, the site recently debuted a seasonal calendar of rotating, in-person and virtual events and programming.
Available to the public as well as Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation members, here are a few highlights of what’s new at Taliesin West this spring:
Tours
A lively community, Taliesin West is open to the public and offers two tour options this spring. Reservations are strongly recommended.
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- In A New Light: Wright & Chihuly | 90 minutes
- As its name suggests, this tour offers a chance to experience Taliesin West in a new way with a guided tour through the most iconic spaces at the site and all the artworks by the internationally celebrated artist, Dale Chihuly. When seen together, visitors will explore the similarities between Wright and Chihuly, especially in their love of nature, world cultures, and the power of great spaces. Together, they are a masterclass in innovation, experimentation, and great design.
- In A New Light: Wright & Chihuly | 90 minutes
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- Chihuly Nights | Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through May 31 | 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. | $35 per adult, $26 per student (ages 13-25 with student ID), $18 per youth (ages 6-12)
- Chihuly Nights are self-guided evenings where you can stroll a portion of the desert campus and take your time. With the help of an exhibition map, see five of Chihuly’s installations all lit up against the backdrop of Taliesin West and the Sonoran Desert. This experience takes place entirely outdoors and is approximately one hour long.
- Chihuly Nights | Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through May 31 | 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. | $35 per adult, $26 per student (ages 13-25 with student ID), $18 per youth (ages 6-12)
Cultural Program & Events
The Foundation continuously works to provide new pathways for audiences to discover Taliesin West in new ways through regular theater performances and hands-on workshops led by subject-matter experts.
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- Taliesin West Talks: Conversations on Chihuly | Feb. 4, March 4, April 1, May 6 | Free with admission to select Chihuly Nights
- Discover more about Chihuly’s work at the monthly conversation series, Taliesin West Talks. Included with the cost of admission for select Chihuly Nights, hear from Taliesin West staff members and visiting specialists as they share unique perspectives on Chihuly’s artwork.
- Taliesin West Talks: Conversations on Chihuly | Feb. 4, March 4, April 1, May 6 | Free with admission to select Chihuly Nights
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- Saturday Night Salon | Jan. 15, Feb. 26, March 26 | 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. | $50 per ticket
- Spend Saturday nights like Mr. and Mrs. Wright. Saturday Night Salons celebrate the history of performance and lively conversation at Taliesin West. Each evening combines a series of different presenters and performances, to explore a central aspect of life at Taliesin West. With a new theme each month, guests will want to return often.
- Saturday Night Salon | Jan. 15, Feb. 26, March 26 | 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. | $50 per ticket
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- Sunsets and Sips Happy Hour | Weekly on Wednesdays | 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. | $35 per ticket
- Returning to Taliesin West this spring, this popular happy hour event invites guests to linger and mingle with a drink on the famous Prow, with panoramic views of the city below. Each evening will feature a different portion of the Taliesin West campus to discover with staff always present to share stories, providing an intimate experience at Wright’s renowned winter home.
- Sunsets and Sips Happy Hour | Weekly on Wednesdays | 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. | $35 per ticket
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- Southwest Shakespeare Company | April 7-10, April 14-17 | $35 general admission, $45 premium seating
- Founded in 1993, the Southwest Shakespeare Company has become one of the key members of the arts and culture community in the Valley. With a mission to elevate, entertain, educate, and inspire the public and educational communities of Arizona and the Southwest through vivid and passionate performances, the Company will continue to bring new and diverse talent, innovative performances, and exciting offerings to local audiences with a lineup of brand-new shows premiering at Taliesin West this spring with performances of “Shall I Compare Thee: The Sonnets,” an extraordinary celebration of life, love, and the pursuit of happiness in a post-COVID world. Tickets will be available starting Feb. 1 on the Company’s website.
- Southwest Shakespeare Company | April 7-10, April 14-17 | $35 general admission, $45 premium seating
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- Friday Night Films | Jan. 28, Feb. 25, March 11 | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. | $15 per ticket
- Watch films in style at Taliesin West. The Friday Night Films series provides a new way to enjoy the silver screen – connecting art, architecture, and nature. From old classics to new favorites, there’s something for everyone. Each evening includes a screening in a historic Taliesin West space, followed by a conversation connecting the film to Wright’s legacy.
- Friday Night Films | Jan. 28, Feb. 25, March 11 | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. | $15 per ticket
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- Family Movie Nights | Feb.6, March 13, April 3 | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. | $15 per adult, $10 per child
- Frank Lloyd Wright, Mrs. Wright, and his apprentices had movie nights at Taliesin West to help create a sense of community at Wright’s “Desert Laboratory.” The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation archives hold a list of every movie shown at Taliesin West and have chosen to screen 101 Dalmatians, Flipper, and Treasure Island for guests this season.
- Family Movie Nights | Feb.6, March 13, April 3 | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. | $15 per adult, $10 per child
Taliesin West is now open Monday through Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 4:20 p.m. for tours, with evening tours available on Thursday nights. The distinctive on-site Frank Lloyd Wright Store remains open through 5:00 p.m. for shopping. Advance reservations are required to tour the campus and the Foundation continues to uphold an array of careful safety practices during the ongoing pandemic, including maintaining a mask policy for all guests in indoor public areas onsite, regardless of vaccination status.
To book a tour at Taliesin West, to donate, or to become a member, visit FrankLloydWright.org.
About the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation
The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, established by Wright in 1940, is dedicated to preserving Taliesin and Taliesin West, both World Heritage sites, for future generations, and inspiring people to discover and embrace architecture for better living through meaningful connections to nature, the arts, and each other. The Foundation continues the Frank Lloyd Wright legacy by broadening access to his ideas, works, and designs — considered more relevant today than in his own time — and provides new pathways for audiences to create beauty and connectedness in their own lives. Taliesin West was recently named among the top 10% percent of attractions worldwide by TripAdvisor. Visit FrankLloydWright.org for more information on tour schedules, cultural and educational experiences, and events. To learn more about Chihuly in the Desert, visit ChihulyInTheDesert.org. To shop the latest Wright-inspired home, design, and lifestyle products, visit FrankLloydWrightStore.com.
Featured Image Credit: @douglaspatch
