Robert McKay on Clubhouse

Bio

Rob McKay is co-owner and curator at Connect Gallery located in Hyde Park Chicago, providing a social space and gallery for both well-established and burgeoning artists. He is Director of Productions for The Silver Room Sound System Block Party and is the founder of THĒARĒ Group, an organization in which artists and the entrepreneurial-minded share ideas and resources. Rob is a music industry veteran; with over 30 years in the business, he has gained many skillsets which garner the trust and confidence of national and international artists as consulting clients.
Rob has led many successful community projects and events including but not limited to the annual Silver Room Sound System Block Party where he serves as Director of Productions, with attendees reaching over 40,000 this event generated an economic impact of 3.6 million for the southside of Chicago. He co-curated "Move Your Body", an exhibition that chronicled the history of Chicago House Music, held at the Chicago Cultural Center, it garnered well over 95,000 attendees. He also curated the well-received public art installation "Activate", partnering with the Chicago Loop Alliance. With friend and business partner Eric Williams Rob produces the Connect Art Fair which has been held in Hyde Park and South Shore, Chicago.
Rob believes that Art changes the world. His aim is to increase collaboration between community members, agencies, and other stakeholders to express and solve issues using creativity as the catalyst for social innovation.
Rob was featured on the NPR radio show, Code Switch and has been interviewed for the Chicago Reader and other publications. Rob was awarded the African American Arts Alliance of Chicago's 2017 Black Excellence Award in the category of Gallery Exhibit in recognition of his curation of Connect Gallery.