The Keeper  2019 – 2026

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 runs 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.  

A daily log is kept by each keeper and posted online:

https://www.keeperproject.com.au/

Jason Maling and Martyn Coutts guide the project in collaboration with Red Chair, running workshops for each set of Keepers and providing ongoing mentorship.

The original Coolum Keepers were: John Fuller, Jacqui Sanderson, Amie Moffat, Libby Derham, Peta O’hara, Shannon Carroll, Simone Gillam, Kellie O’Demsey, Alison Mooney, Jack Hagan, Andrew Veiviers, Santiago Bruno, Cooper Brady and Petalia Humpheries.

Principal Project partners: Angie Dunbaven (Red Chair), Megan Rowland (Sunshine Coast Council) Martyn Coutts (Field Theory) Documentation - Cooper Brady

Keeper pilot video 2019