The 2024 Geelong Contemporary Art Prize continues a long tradition of acquisitive award exhibitions presented by the Gallery, through which the permanent collection has grown substantially. The first painting prize—the Geelong Centenary Art Competition—was held in 1938, and in the more than 80 years since, the Gallery has awarded acquisitive prizes variously for paintings, watercolours and prints, generously sponsored by individuals, philanthropic and corporate supporters committed to contemporary art. Paintings acquired from previous prizes are among the most significant works in the Gallery’s collection, including works by Peter Booth (1972), Lesley Dumbrell (1979), Richard Larter (1980), John Nixon (1996), Janenne Eaton (1998), Ann Thomson (2002), Kate Beynon (2016) and Andrew Browne (2018). The 2024 finalists are Peter Atkins, Stephen Benwell, Natasha Bieniek, Seth Birchall, Maggie Brink, Johnathon Bush, Eleanor Louise Butt, Fernando do Campo, Ella Dunn, David Egan, Louise Gresswell, dana harris, Euan Heng, Duain Kelaart, Dane Lovett, Travis MacDonald, Viv Miller, Jan Murray, John Pastoriza-Pinol, Rosslynd Piggott, Kenny Pittock, Steven Rendall, Rachael Robb, Huseyin Sami, Georgia Spain, Ebony Truscott, Kate Vassallo, Trevor Vickers, Jake Walker, Amber Wallis and Louise Weaver.