The Art Gallery of New South Wales is a public art museum. Therefore, the artworks on display, unlike those in a commercial gallery, are generally either from the permanent collection or borrowed from other (public or private) collections for temporary exhibitions. They are also not for sale.

However, a few times each year, the Art Gallery mounts special, group exhibitions. Some of these are competitions, open to all, while others are exhibitions of work by children (or year 12 students). All of these exhibitions are selective, meaning that not all works submitted are accepted for display.

Open Competitions
Archibald Prize (portrait painting)
Wynne Prize (landscape painting or figure sculpture)
Sulman Prize (genre or 'subject' painting or mural projects)
Dobell Prize for Drawing
Information about entering 
More general information

Children's and Students' Exhibitions
Operation Art (artworks for the New Children's Hospital, Westmead)
Reconciliation (celebrating Reconciliation Week)
Artexpress (year 12 Visual Arts students)
Information about entering: from your school