THE residents of Gunnedah can now look up and see the stunning mural of Dorothea Mackellar painted on maize mill whenever they choose, but a new study is hoping to find out how many tourists actually travel to see the artwork, and what economic impact that has on the town.
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Griffith University has been monitoring the increasingly-popular trend of silo art, and has now launched the first ever national survey designed to "provide much needed independent and public information about the impacts of this uniquely Australian and bourgeoning art movement".
A darling of local media outlets and tourism agencies, each regional town that possesses one of the works promotes it as one of the best and most popular in the country.
However, neither them, government bodies, local businesses or the community in general currently have access to a solid body of evidence regarding the impact of the tourist drawcard.
"Our initial interview research shows the silo art that tells authentic stories about local communities engages visitors the most," said Griffith University researcher Dr Amelia Green.
"And while understanding visitor experiences is crucial, we are building a more complete picture that includes what the particular nature of silo art means for regional communities, and how the art can directly benefit them as well."
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They are calling on members of regional towns, businesses within those communities and tourists who visit the silos to take part in the survey, no matter what their thoughts on the matter are.
Researchers believe the results will not only help towns determine just how beneficial the artwork has been, but also aid councils or organisations that are hoping to gain approval for their own mural in the future.
Just released, the online survey takes about 20 minutes to complete and can be accessed here: https://prodsurvey.rcs.griffith.edu.au/prodls200/index.php/889133?lang=en
Interviews are continuing alongside the survey and Dr Green and Professor Weaven will publish the first public report with findings of their research in July this year.
