The Keeper Project

A public art ritual bringing creative presence into everyday life

The Keeper Project is a long-form, socially engaged public art project that unfolds in everyday spaces, inviting communities to see their surroundings in new ways.

Developed in collaboration with Strange Engine, the project places local artists into a temporary role as “Keepers” – observers, collectors, makers and storytellers embedded within the life of a place. Working over an extended period, each Keeper creates a simple, repeatable public action or ritual, appearing at a set time and location and evolving through interaction with the people who encounter it.The result is a series of small, cumulative moments that bring creative presence into daily life, revealing local stories, connections and character in unexpected ways.

Each iteration is supported by a bespoke digital platform, allowing audiences to follow the journey of the Keepers, encounter documentation of the work and engage with the project over time.

The Keeper Project has been realised across multiple Sunshine Coast communities, with each iteration shaped in response to its local context, artists and participants. The model is designed to be flexible and place-responsive, with Red Chair working alongside presenters and partners to adapt the project to suit different locations, scales and community settings.

If you’re interested in creating a long-term, community-embedded arts project in your region, we’d love to start a conversation.

The Keeper is produced by Red Chair in collaboration with Strange Engine. The Keeper is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland. The Keeper has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.The Keeper is supported by the Sunshine Coast Council in partnership with the Queensland Government through the Regional Arts Development Fund.