The Keeper Project
Archeologists of local stories | June 2025 - February 2026 | Caloundra
The Keeper Project is coming to Caloundra...
Caloundra-based artists have been selected to take on the role of Keepers until February 2026. The local artists come from a diverse range of creative practices including photography, spoken word, music, horticulture and multi-media practice.
Starting in June, each artist will be present in the Caloundra community for three weeks over a nine-month period, using Caloundra Regional Gallery as a base.
They will be exploring the streets and sites of Caloundra and uncovering the uniqueness of the town. Through their creative act in the public realm, they will make visible the things that go unseen.
You may encounter the Keepers as you go about your everyday life or follow the project as it passes from Keeper to Keeper.
The Keepers will be logging their journey like any good explorer.
Keep an eye on the Keeper Project website for logs and updates and follow the project on Instagram and Facebook.
The Keeper Project is produced by Red Chair and developed in collaboration with Field Theory.
| Location | Dates | Cost |
| Caloundra | June 2025 - February 2026 | Free |
Current Keeper
The first Keeper is Lisette Lovell - The Plant Oracle.
You'll find Lisette in a jungle of plants around Felicity Park listening to what the plants have to say.
Bring your own plant and take part in a soft ritual of care. A whispered pep talk, a sprinkle of fertiliser, and a deeper chat about how our plants speak to us if we take the time to notice.
Starting 24th June for three weeks:
Tuesdays, 10am - 2pm
Thursdays, 10am - 2pm
Sundays, 10am - 2pm
Message Lisette @the_plant_social_sc to organise a time for your own ritual!
The Keepers
Keeper No. 1 Lisette Lovell Caloundra is home. I grew up here. This place was formative, like the soil that shapes how something grows. I did leave for a while, like any plant stretching out in search of something new. But my roots always pointed back here. | Keeper No. 2 Aimee Gray I love the old fibro shacks that hold on amongst the constant development. The sneaky tip of North Bribie Island is the best place to watch the sunset and the moonrise, there's also 5 Kangaroos living in that tiny parcel of forest. |
Keeper No. 3 Megan Robinson Caloundra is where I learnt to slow down and survive. The interesting thing about Caloundra is its hodge-podge of architecture. People think Caloundra is this daggy old town but I believe that’s where its charm lies. | Keeper No. 4 Patricia McInerney Drawn by the relaxed pace, beautiful beaches, and the sense of space. It felt like the right place to build a new chapter and put down roots. There are secrets... Warehouse parties tucked away in industrial corners, underground shows where art and music collide, whispers of a legendary night in the big old orange building a few years back, off the hook, apparently. |
Keeper No. 5 Ben Burns Caloundra has two lighthouses standing side by side, and neither of them have a light (except the metaphorical light of hope they emit regardless). One of my favourite places is the rock pools of Moff's. | Keeper No. 6 Karina Sharpe While I’m more drawn to the outer edges and natural surrounds, the town itself has gradually worked its way into my routines. It’s quiet, relaxed, and maybe a little sleepy — and honestly, that’s mostly true. But that calm can make even small changes feel significant. I find that kind of potential exciting. |
Keeper No. 7 Rebecca Boucher-Burns One of my favourite things to do in Caloundra is stare at the sea, in a cafe right on the edge of it, afternoon coffee in hand. Things come and go. The sands move and the sea leaves or moves in to take its’ place. Shops come and go, and ideas die or flourish. People also come and go, some because it’s too sleepy, some because it’s too busy. Each to their own. |
Acknowledgment
The Keeper is produced by Red Chair in collaboration with Field Theory.
The Keeper is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland. The Keeper is supported by the Sunshine Coast Council in partnership with the Queensland Government through the Regional Arts Development Fund.