On Tuesday, 16 June 2026, Gen Collective brought together professionals from across the Hunter region for Paint Your Piece, a relaxed evening of ceramic painting, mulled wine, live music, beautiful food and genuine conversation at MOA & co in Carrington.

The event was designed to offer something a little different: a chance to step away from the usual pace of professional life, sit around a table with like-minded people, and connect through a mindful creative activity. Guests selected a small handmade ceramic dish and decorated it at their own pace using underglaze paints, brushes and tools provided on the night.

A different kind of networking

Paint Your Piece was created with a simple intention: to make connection feel natural, relaxed and meaningful. With a paintbrush in hand, conversation flowed easily. The room was filled with warmth, creativity and calm as attendees painted, shared stories, enjoyed mulled wine and food and listened to live music throughout the evening.

For many guests, the creative format made networking feel more comfortable and accessible. One attendee described it as a “really great event, relaxing and fun at the same time” and said it “made it more comfortable to network.” Another shared that it was “so calming to sit and paint while chatting with people at the table.”

You can check out the full event photo gallery here.

What attendees had to say

The feedback from the evening captured exactly what we hoped the event would create: a sense of ease, connection and enjoyment.

“Amazing evening — full of fun, calm and connection.”
“Great conversation, lovely food and wine, mindful activity.”
“Absolutely amazing, loved it. Pure bliss.”
“10/10. Feeling very grounded.”
“Loved it. So calming to sit and paint while chatting with people at the table.”
“I’m not very creative but spending time with these wonderful women made me feel wonderful.”
“Wonderful night.”
“Lovely experience.”

It was a privilege to see guests leave not only with a ceramic piece to be glazed and fired, but with new conversations, new connections and a sense of having taken time for themselves.

Thank you to our collaborators

Thank you to MOA & co for welcoming Gen Collective into such a beautiful and inviting space at 16 Gipps Street, Carrington. Thank you also to Grounded By Designs for hosting an event centred on creativity, mindfulness and meaningful connection.

To everyone who joined us: thank you for your openness, creativity and conversation. You made the evening what it was.

Paint Your Piece was a reminder that professional connection does not always need to happen in formal spaces or structured conversations. Sometimes, it happens most naturally over a shared table, a warm drink, good food, live music and the simple act of creating something by hand.

We cannot wait to do it again.

An Evening of Creativity, Calm and Connection

Pause. Breathe. Shift. Export. Choose.