Will Wright

How long have you been with Galveston Historical Foundation and how long in the role of chief creative officer?

It’s been 15 years this April. I started as the director of marketing, and as we merged some departments over the years, chief creative officer became my title.  

In what ways is Dickens on The Strand important to the Galveston community?

Dickens is one of three significant events that our community is known for. It’s really unique in that it ties directly to early preservation efforts in the 1970s. From a community standpoint, Dickens started to raise awareness about the need for preservation efforts and specifically on The Strand. The Strand we have today is much different than what we had in the ’70s. The Strand is a National Historic Landmark District now, but in the ’70s there was a real risk that some of the oldest commercial architecture on the island, from the 1850s, was going to be lost. Dickens started as a grassroots community potluck to bring people together during the holiday season on The Strand, and then it grew after that into a small festival and a much larger festival. Dickens has really continued the tradition and mindset of bringing people to appreciate and preserve our historical architecture.

Why was it worth it for you to travel to San Marcos to attain your M.F.A.?

The TXST program was really interesting for a lot of reasons. There were weekend classes, and it let me formalize a degree out of something I’ve made a career out of. It was a great experience, and I enjoyed every moment of it.

How has your TXST education benefitted you in your job or career?

It allowed me to see the profession in a light that I didn’t always get to see, and it let me learn from other people. Design is a great tool to be able to use to see what other people are doing. Being in a room with other people who are creatives, to be in that environment, was fantastic. It was a great experience and without a doubt a huge payoff to how I do my work, how I see my work, and ultimately how I’m trying to convey my organization’s goals to a larger audience. 

Did TXST help shape your commitment to your community involvement?

My work is tied strongly to the community, and the courses I took at TXST provided a great exploration of how creative work needs to and can connect to a larger audience. The curriculum and professors were very supportive of that.  

How did it feel to be recognized by the British government?

Never in a million years did I ever think that something like that would ever happen. I am very happy to keep my head to the ground and do my best work, and to be acknowledged for that work was humbling and something I’m deeply proud of. It’s a great example of how something that we do locally in the community can have importance in ways we might not always be aware of.