1965

Geelong Gallery held a film night in 1965, inviting guests to watch The Titan: Story of Michelangelo, a 1950 German documentary detailing the life of iconic Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo. 

To support the goal of representing more emerging Australian contemporary artists, the Geelong Art Gallery Association teamed up with United Distillers Ltd (who operated out of the Corio Distillery) to create the Corio 5 Star Whisky prize for oil painting. This allowed Geelong Gallery to acquire a contemporary work by an Australian artist each year. 

Pictured is Poolon by Russian-born Australian artist Victor Majzner, which was awarded the Corio 5 Star Whisky prize in 1974, the last year of the prize. Majzner is known for his use of colour and the surreal quality of his works.