Pinot and Picasso launches local initiative

PAINT, wine and community spirit are the main ingredients in the recipe for success at Bendigo’s Pinot and Picasso.

The paint-and-sip experience has only been operating for three months, and recently launched a Local Thursdays initiative, giving back to the community that has supported it.

Studio owner Rebecca Auld said every $5 from ticket sales to a Thursday session go towards a local group or organisation.

“This month’s two community groups are Sunshine Bendigo and Bendigo Women’s Shed,” she said.

“What happens is the guests on Thursday night each get a wine cork and they’re asked to put the wine cork in one of the jars of the group they want their five dollars to go towards. At the end of the month they’re tallied up and those donations go to the relevant groups.

“We just wanted to give back. Through lockdown and everything Victoria’s been through, and the local support we were given as a new business in the area we just thought we wanted to give back in some way.”

Due to the most recent COVID-19 lockdown, September and October were combined, with Pinot and Picasso raising over $570 for Share the Dignity Bendigo and Lifeline Central Victoria and Mallee.

“We know how important these groups are to the local community,” Ms Auld said.

“Those not-for-profit groups they often work tirelessly with volunteers and don’t have that money coming through the doors, and lockdowns have really hampered their efforts with those processes.”

Since launching in August, Ms Auld said sessions have been selling out, and bookings are already filling for Christmas.

The studio will also soon announce its summer school holiday programs, with sessions aimed at children to be available.