Research backs silo art projects
A university researcher who has studied and produced a report on the effect of silo art across Australia has recommended communities continue to invest in the concept.
Dr Amelia Green from Griffith University said with 48 silo art works across Australia and another 15 in planning, the attractions were maintaining their popularity.
Dr Green made her comments after finishing a national silo art survey and publishing her report.
Dr Green’s research included investigations into how successful silo art, a major evolution of the street-art movement, had been at achieving the goals of regional concept developers such as regional shires and towns.
She also looked at the challenges and opportunities identified by visitors and silo-town communities.
The Wimmera is home to Victoria’s extensive Silo Art Trail, conceived and developed in Yarriambiack Shire and now expanding across the broader Wimmera-mallee.
The trail is often referenced in international travel guides as Australia’s largest outdoor art gallery.
Among Dr Green’s report recommendations were that silo art towns invest in the ongoing activation, promotion, maintenance and stewardship of silo art sites; forge strategic partnerships with businesses to develop ‘deeper and more varied tourism offerings’; understand there is a continual visitor emphasis on ‘new’ experiences and find ways to address that challenge so visitors will want to return; and address the disconnect between visitors eager to ‘give back’, but frustrated few or no shops or other attractions are open when they visit, and businesses who are keen to attract more customers.
Australian Street Art Awards director Liz Rivers said many of the issues raised in the report were equally pertinent to any town, region or precinct that promoted outdoor art to attract visitors.
“Identifying solutions to the pinpointed challenges is something that will see the whole of Australia benefit – the travellers who are heading out to discover and experience the outdoor art and the destinations keen to reap the rewards,” she said.
Dr Green will speak about her report at a 2022 Art of Attraction Tourism Summit on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast in March.
She will use the occasion to provide delegates with a more detailed understanding of what needed to happen so destinations could maximise their efforts to attract firsttime and return travellers.
Major silo or street-art sites across the Wimmera-mallee are at Rupanyup, Sheep Hills, Brim, Rosebery, Woomelang, Lascelles, Patchewollock, Albacutya, Kaniva, Goroke, St Arnaud, Nullawil, Sea Lake and Avoca.