The Keeper

The Keeper Project is a long form, live, public art project embedded in place. It began as a partnership between Jason Maling/Field Theory, Sunshine Coast Council, Red Chair and a collective of local artists. The project initially ran for two years in Coolum after a successful pilot phase in 2019. In 2024 it ran in Nambour, in 2025, Caloundra, and Maroochydore in 2026. The conceptual premise is a constantly evolving ‘role’ that is taken on by a local community member for one month then passed on to be reinvented by a new person. 'Keepers' work as observers, explorers, collectors and makers within their community by developing a repeated public ritual that enables them to engage directly with their community. They become the archaeologists of local stories, uncovering the uniqueness of a place and making visible the things that go unseen.