Public art doesn’t just enhance the vibe of a place and engage the local community, it can act as a magnet for visitors, bringing recognition and economic benefits to an LGA.

Those benefits were highlighted at the announcement of the Australian Street Art awards on the Sunshine Coast on Friday night.

Judged by tourism and public art leaders from across Australia, the awards are designed to encourage world-class street and public art.

Among the 29 winners were many government initiatives, including a silo art project, a Chinese mural and a council-led street art walking tour.

Silo art

Barunga West Council worked on its ambitious silo art project with a small farming community in the South Australian town of Bute in the Northern Yorke peninsula for seven years in an attempt to stimulate the local community and boost morale.

Artist network Juddy Roller commissioned artists Scott Nagy and Krimsone to create the colourful mural incorporating native plants, birds and agriculture in April 2022.

Juddy Roller says the artwork concept is based on representing women in regional areas, through telling the story of a girl pushing a vintage bike alongside the train tracks like the ones that run alongside the silo. 

Council says the project has increased visitors and generated income, as well as giving residents a renewed sense of pride and enthusiasm in their home.

Dancing Dragon

The Last Lion mural creates a striking entrance to Burwood’s Chinatown precinct.

Burwood Council commissioned the work from Sophi Odling and Christina Huynh in partnership with Burwood Chinatown and the 4a Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, with the judges saying it brought Australian and Asian culture together and helped transform an urban lane into a vibrant and activated community space.

Walking tour

With more than fifty murals, Frankston has a reputation as an arts and culture destination in Victoria.

Frankstown City Council Street Art Walking Tours let residents and visitors to celebrate the street art and encourage them to explore the city’s constantly evolving creative pulse.

The initiative was also named the nation’s Best Street Art Tour in 2021.

Creating a unique landmark

Awards Director Liz Rivers says the winners have helped make Australia a more creative and interesting destination for visitors.

“Smart councils promote their street and outdoor art as a unique landmark – an attraction that visitors can see in only one place, and that makes their towns immediately identifiable, highly attractive and a drawcard for art-loving tourists,” Ms Rivers said.

“Investing in outdoor art as an attraction mechanism also makes economic sense as art is typically less expensive to create than more traditional tourism attractions while the pay-off is handsome.”

According to a 2020 report by the Australia Council, arts tourists from within Australia stay almost one-and-a-half times longer and spend about one-and-a-half times more per day than domestic tourists overall.

Gold winners at this year’s Austrlian Street Art Awards

• Best of the Best: ‘Dyipni–Da King of Da Road’, various artists (The Horsepower Highway, WA)

• Best Entrance Art: ‘The Last Lion’, Sophi Odling and Christina Huynh (Burwood Chinatown Precinct Project, commissioned and nominated by Burwood Council Sydney NSW)

• Best External Mural: ‘Sanctum’, Andrew Bourke and Jesse Bell (for the Darwin Street Art Festival, supported by Activate Darwin – part of the Dept of the Chief Minister NT)

• Best Landmark Sculpture: ‘Dyipni–Da King of Da Road’, 14 Filipino metal workers (The Horsepower Highway, WA)

• Best Mega Mural: Quorn Silo Light Show, Illuminart (Southern Flinders Ranges SA)

• Best Monument or Memorial: Southern Aurora Memorial Violet Town, Tim Bowtell, Lach Cummings and Chris Mann (Violet Town VIC)

• Best Rural Art: Bute Silo Art, Scott Nagy and Krimsone (commissioned and nominated by Barunga West Council, Top of the Yorke SA)

• Best Sculpture Park or Trail: Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail, various (Greater Port Macquarie NSW)

• Best Street Art Festival or Event: SWELL Sculpture Festival 2022, various (Gold Coast QLD)

• Best Street Art Laneway: Banna Lane, various (Griffith NSW)

• Best Street Art Tour: Frankston Street Art Walking Tours, various (operated by Frankston City Council, Frankston VIC)

• Best Street Art Trail: Tongala Street Art Trail, Tongala volunteer artists (Goulburn Valley VIC)

A full list of winners is available here.