THE economic and tourism benefits of creating silo art in rural locations has been well-documented and Kimba Community Development Group committee members are hoping to see a major boost in visitor numbers once a project is completed in their town in September.
Group chairperson Heather Baldock said the community had been heavily involved with the silo art project.
“Like many smaller rural communities, we’re trying to find ways to ensure we remain viable, and we’re hopeful this community public art project will bring more people into our town and more people through our retail store doors,” she said.
“We’re looking forward to being only the second town in SA with silo art, and the first on the Eyre Peninsula.
“Kimba is half-way across Australia, and the highway is well-travelled, so it will be a great thing to have silo art in the town, to encourage people to stop.”
The silo art is part of a larger Igniting Kimba initiative, which involves a range of public art related projects and events.
Other projects include the refurbishment of a mural at the town’s show pavilion.
Art programs will also tie in with the 90th annual Kimba Show, which is being held on September 24 and 25.
A month-long art exhibition will be held in the lead-up to the show, culminating in a gala dinner and the announcement of the winner of the Kimba Art Prize.
The silo art will be officially unveiled as part of the Kimba Show celebrations.
Melbourne street artist Cam Scale will be painting the silo art and recently spent time in Kimba to work on design concepts with community members.
“Cam spent two days running community workshops and spending time with school students to come up with design ideas,” Mrs Baldock said.
“We have also encouraged people who couldn’t be at the workshops to put their ideas in. From that, a lot of ideas have been generated and Cam will take everything in, give it some thought and integrate it into his design.”
Work at the site is likely to start in August.
