Storyteller in Residence 2026 - Barb Lowing

In 2026, Redland Performing Arts Centre (RPAC), Redland Art Gallery and Redland City Council’s Creative Arts Service welcome the region’s first Storyteller in Residence.

This year‑long residency explores the stories behind creativity on Redlands Coast — not to promote events or review performances, but to reveal the human experiences that shape our cultural life. The Storyteller in Residence captures what happens behind the scenes: the moments before a performance, the conversations in rehearsal rooms, and the connections formed through making and sharing art.

Acclaimed Queensland performer, writer and photographer Barb Lowing has been invited to take up the role. Working across performances, exhibitions and community arts programs, Barb will observe, listen and document creative process as it unfolds, following stories as they emerge.

The residency is a pilot program supported by the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF), a partnership between the Queensland Government and Redland City Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland. 

The residency aims to deepen understanding of why arts and culture matter — strengthening connection, wellbeing and pride of place — while testing a new model for artists as civic storytellers.

Together, we are telling a bigger story about creativity on Redlands Coast — not just what we make, but why it matters.