From Streets to Silos: Urban Art Forms in Local Rural Government and the Challenge of Regional Development

This chapter discusses the Wimmera-Mallee Silo Art Trail in Victoria, Australia, as a case study that highlights the advantages and pitfalls of creative placemaking in a local government-driven rural development through cultural programmes. The Silo Art Trail showcases the benefits to communities of collaboration between a rural local council with higher levels of government and private corporations, when it is led by locally-generated needs and insights. At the same time, despite the achievements of the Silo Art Trail, a lack of explicit cultural policy and the different priorities of differing policy agencies created tensions between competing interests. Reflecting on this case offers opportunities to consider the ongoing significance of local government to cultural and economic development and strategies to strengthen its capacity to achieve positive impact, especially in rural contexts.