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Wednesday August 26, 2026 
25 August 2026
The Royal Art Society of New South Wales has announced the opening of its Annual Spring Exhibition, a free public event running from Friday, 4 September to Friday, 4 October, 2026.
To be hosted at the Society’s gallery at 25-27 Walker Street, North Sydney, the showcase features a diverse range of works from RAS exhibiting members, many of whom are prominent figures in the Australian art community.
The exhibition will officially commence with an opening celebration on Friday, 4 September. Simon Chan AM, Chair of the Visual Asia Committee at the Art Gallery of NSW, will judge and formally open the show.
Attendees are invited to view the collection while enjoying refreshments. The seasonal timing is central to the exhibition’s theme, as RAS Gallery Manager Christine Feher explained “September 1 is the official start to spring, so at the RAS we celebrate each year with this show. Spring challenges both artists and audiences to think about renewal, rebirth and new beginnings.”
A highlight of the event will be the announcement of the RAS Medal of Distinction Award, which honors technical excellence and creative quality. “This award recognises exceptional skill and quality across diverse visual formats, including oil, pastel, and mixed-media works,” Feher said.
The gallery aims to provide a space where the public can engage with professional art in a supportive and unpretentious atmosphere. Feher noted that the exhibition also serves as an entry point for those looking to purchase original pieces. “All the works on show are reasonably priced, so it’s an inexpensive way to collect art,” she said.
Founded in 1880 by George and Arthur Collingridge with the mission of promoting Australian painters, the society is the oldest organisation of its kind in Australia. After the 1879 construction of the Garden Palace in the Botanical Gardens, then-Premier Henry Parkes supported the Society by providing exhibition space for its initial 220-painting showcase. However disaster struck in 1882 when the Garden Palace was destroyed by fire, resulting in the loss of many paintings and foundational records.
Following the Second World War, the Society experienced a period of recovery, purchasing the Lavender Bay Gallery buildings and reopening its Art School. The current headquarters on Walker Street consists of two Victorian terraces purchased for £4945.10 using funds raised from the Society’s first exhibition. Reflecting on the longevity of the North Sydney location, Feher told the Sun: “The members bought these buildings, these terraces in 1956 when it was sort of a really, very downtrodden area and we’ve been here since then.”