Until recently, the Sydney Royal Arts Show was referred to as Arts & Crafts.  While separate catalogues existed for the two forms they were both shown together in the same Pavilion. 

The first recorded appearance of Arts & Crafts exhibits at the Show came in 1869.  A section called Works of Art included classes painting, drawing, models, mineralogical collections, photography and one general crafts class.  There was also a section Articles of Colonial Manufacture. This included, amongst other varied items, jam, confectionary, hats, leatherwork, clothing, and embroidery.

Between 1870 and 1881 there was a section for Fine Arts with classes for lithography, engraving, architectural drawings, modelling, carving, painting, drawing, photography, sculptures, oleographs, illuminated addresses and collages.

There were also Arts & Crafts sections that included Clothing and Furniture.  Clothing classes contained fabrics and other objects worn on the person, while Furniture included blankets, hats, shawls, tapestries, gloves, lacework, embroidery, garments, shoes, toys, dolls, crochet, wool work, tatting or dressmaking patterns. Furniture and other objects could include sculptures, jewellery, decorated eggs, tapestry, needlework, toys, basketwork, pottery & porcelain, leatherwork, quilting / patchwork, wool work, lace or crochet.

A section called Miscellaneous Produce or Food (fresh or preserved) included a variety of exhibits that are now classed in the Arts Section such as bread, pastry, jam, confectionary, preserved fruits & vegetables and biscuits.

From 1874 to 1881 there was a section called Technical Prizes or Schools. It contained classes for students for drawing, needlework and carving.

 

In 1905 the Women’s Industries section was introduced, originally a sub-section of Apparatus & Processes used in the Common and Liberal Arts, it later became a separate section. Only women were allowed to compete. The classes in this section were quite varied and could include: quilting, manchester, carving, embroidery, smocking, lacework, fretwork, crochet, knitting, paper flowers, needlework, clothing, hats, ribbon work, tatting, painting, photography, preserves, bottled fruits, cakes, confectionary, macramé, bookbinding, beaten copper & brass work, bead work, inventions (scientific, practical, medical etc), face creams, carpentry, hair working, canvas work, silk cocoons, correspondence and more. 

From 1906 to 1912 there was also a section called Leatheries, containing some types of leatherwork classes. Leatherwork was introduced to Women’s Industries in 1914.  Cookery classes were held in the Agricultural Section in the 1920s. 

Between 1929 and 1938 there were no Arts & Crafts Competitions at the Show.  In 1939 the Women’s Industries Section returned with classes divided into needlework and cookery.  Children’s classes were also added.  The following year the section was named Women’s Handicrafts and expanded to include weaving, spinning, pottery, toys, leatherwork, basketry, and other crafts. 

After World War II, in 1947, the section became known as ‘Women’s Handicrafts and Similar Work by Returned Servicemen’. The Section underwent numerous name changes over the following years; Home & Handicrafts (1948-1951), Arts & Handicrafts (1952-1956) and finally Arts & Crafts (1957). Classes continued to be added, expanded and changed.

In 1954 classes for blind or partially blind persons were introduced. In 1958 a separate Art Exhibition was instituted. Similarly, there was a separate Photography Competition (also known as the National Exhibition of Photography) from 1961to 2004. Photography was added to the Art & Craft Competitions in 2006.

The Art & Craft Competitions continued with traditional arts such as needlework and sewing, crafts and cookery. In 1983 the Competition’s name changed to just Craft.  The modern Competition is called Arts and its official title is the Sydney Royal Arts Show, named in 2006. 

Exhibits are shown in the Binnie Pavilion named in honour of one of the sections most influential contributors.  Francis Binnie served as the Chairman of the Ladies Auxiliary Committee of the Arts & Crafts Section as well as serving as a Steward from 1952, Assistant Steward-in-Chief from 1956 to 1966 and a member of the Ladies Auxiliary Committee from 1956 to 1984.  Her work within the section was recognised with a RAS service award and is commemorated in The Frances Binnie Special Award for a Meritorious Exhibit in The Standard of Excellence case.