Artist in Residence – Seagrass Meadows

Local Artists, Local Stories: From Research to Public Space

Local Artists, Local Stories is a pilot artist-in-residence project that connects research, creative practice, and public engagement across the Gladstone Region.

At the heart of this project is my strong passion for seagrass meadows and their critical role in the health of our coastal environment. These underwater ecosystems support fish, turtles, dugongs, and countless microscopic organisms, while also stabilising sediments and improving water quality. Despite their importance, seagrass meadows often go unseen and undervalued — and this project uses art as a way to bring visibility, understanding, and care to these fragile systems.

The project began with a seagrass-focused residency at Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC), which was primarily a period of learning, observation, and idea development. Spending time with marine researchers — along with a site visit to Turkey Beach — deepened my understanding of where seagrass meadows are found in the region, why they matter, and the work being done to monitor and protect them. This research phase informed the concepts, visual language, and storytelling that would later shape the artworks.

The creative development then moved into a public-facing residency at Gladstone Airport Corporation, where artworks were created onsite in the terminal. Working in this highly visible, everyday space allows travellers to observe the creative process, ask questions, and engage with local environmental stories as they move through the region.

As part of the pilot, original artworks, prints, and seagrass-inspired merchandise are available for purchase. Short visitor surveys are also being used to gather feedback on product interest, pricing, and how important locally made art and local stories are to audiences. This information will help inform future artist residencies, product development, and sustainable creative opportunities for regional artists.

Together, the CMERC and Gladstone Airport residencies form a journey from research to public experience — using art to advocate for seagrass meadows while strengthening cultural tourism and local creative practice in Central Queensland.