This Team Member Tuesday, let’s meet someone who just couldn’t stay away!

Name: Hillary Crawford

Position: Arts Consultant

How long have you been with the Division?

I started working for the Division in July of 2015. Previously I worked for the Division from January 1999 to October 2002 in various capacities.

So what exactly do you DO?

As a program manager, I assist grantees in the media arts, multidisciplinary, and presenter categories of the Discipline-Based arts grants. I see the grantees through the entire life of their grant, from their application and eligibility, to the panel process, and then with managing their awards throughout the year until the final report.  I also assist with the installation of art for the Capitol Complex Exhibition program and am beginning to work with Fellowships, Endowments, and Art in State Buildings.

What’s your favorite part of your job?

I enjoy working with all of the grantees and seeing all of the exciting programs that are occurring throughout the State of Florida.  I am proud to do my small part to help make Florida a better place for arts and culture.

Hillary and her family

Are you an artist yourself? If so, what do you do?

Nope, just an art lover.

What do you like to do for fun?

Cooking, riding my bike, reading (I am in a book club), volunteering (Junior League of Tallahassee), my husband and I do karaoke in our basement, I also enjoy roller skating and playing Xbox with my son (we are Just Dance Kids champions).

If you could go anywhere in the world to see art, where would you go and what would you see?

The important thing is just seeing art in person. There is a connection you get when you are viewing art in person that is not achieved in reproduction, whether it is the texture of a painting or simply the size. I really enjoyed the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. I had read his letters to his brother, Theo, and really just fell in love with him. It was a treat to see so much of his work in one place.  I once had a really wonderful, moving experience at the Rothko Chapel in Houston.  It is a very special place and I would love to visit there again.

Tell us something surprising about yourself.

I was a chorus nerd and a thespian.  I played the role of Marty in Grease my senior year in the high school musical.  I met my husband in chorus, we were high school sweethearts.  We grew up and apart and married other people, after we both divorced, we found each other again.  In 2012 we were married on the 20^th anniversary of our first kiss, in the same place.