Aaron L. McKinney, Hi-ARTS
Born on Cherokee Land (Greenville, SC) and presently residing on the Land of the Lenape people (Brooklyn, NY), Aaron L. McKinney (he/him) is an Arts Administrator currently serving as the Executive Director of Hi-ARTS, in East Harlem, New York. Grounded in two decades of experience in the field of theatre, McKinney brings his wealth of knowledge, experience, and value-centered expertise as a collaborative innovator and producer as evidenced by previous positions at world-renowned institutions such as the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, Sankofa.org, 651 ARTS and Center Theatre Group. Along with his extensive education in the Arts from nationally recognized institutions, where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Performance from Florida A&M University and Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Management from the prestigious California Institute of the Arts, McKinney launched The ALM Way in 2020. Born out of the desire to craft collaborative spaces that center a holistic approach to consulting that is spiritually grounded, process-oriented, and value-based, The ALM Way is a consultation company that holds a deep commitment to advocating for the arts, through individual and institutional collaborations, as a transformative space of healing, thriving, and joy. Among the projects he has produced are the Off-Broadway debut of Theatre Evolution’s The Contract, a drama addressing the intersection of spirituality and sexuality and the development phase of the musical Lunatic Sun about the effects of consumerism and gentrification. He served as the inaugural producer in residence of #LoveHustle, an artist-led performance and dialogue series that captures the tensions of pursuing one's dreams as an artist. McKinney’s professional leadership in performing arts and producing purposely centers the dialogue that has always existed between the arts and social justice activism, highlighting how the intersection of these worlds serves as a vessel for addressing some of our most pressing social issues.
Email: aaron@hi-artsnyc.org
