Why Small Businesses Like Hardys Bay Club Are a Big Deal for Local Artists

14 May

By Marilyn Creery

There’s something special about the way small businesses support their communities—and when it comes to art, it’s often places like cafés, clubs, and markets that give artists their very first (and sometimes best) spaces to show their work.

Hardys Bay Club, tucked away in one of the most peaceful corners of the Central Coast, is one of those gems.

🌿 A Local Hub with Heart

This isn't your average club. Hardys Bay Club has soul. It’s surrounded by bushland, just minutes from the water, and it pulses with a quiet kind of community magic.

They’re home to regular live music, with talented local bands and singers like Les Lowe and Night Owls! filling the air with tunes that feel like summer evenings and good company. On Thursdays from 4pm, the fresh produce market brings locals together over fruit, veg, handmade treats, and friendly yarns. It’s slow living at its best—and it’s real.

🎨 Where My Art Found a Home

Right now, Hardys Bay Club is also home to my latest exhibition, Maz’s Muse—a collection of mostly plein air landscape paintings, created outdoors in the wild and painted with the energy of the moment.

You’ll find the smaller pieces lining the bar wall, adding a touch of art to your drink or dinner. Wander a little further into the function room, and you’ll come across the larger works, hanging out quietly waiting for their collectors. It’s casual, creative, and perfectly fitting.

What makes this all possible is the thoughtful coordination of Kerrie Pentecost, an artist herself, who lovingly manages the roster of exhibitions at the club. Her support of local creatives—across all mediums—has helped turn Hardys into a welcoming space for both artists and art lovers alike.

💛 Supporting Local Artists Means Everything

When small businesses choose to feature local artists, it’s not just wall decoration—it’s a statement. It says:
“We value creativity.”
“We believe in community.”
“We’re here for each other.”

Hardys Bay Club could’ve kept their walls blank, but instead, they gave them life—and gave me (and other creatives) a platform to share our stories.

So if you’re local to the Central Coast—or just visiting—swing by the Club. Check out the art. Listen to some tunes. Buy your veggies. And raise a glass to the small businesses who make a big difference.

Maz’s Muse is on show at Hardys Bay Club from Anzac Day (2025) and open Thursdays to Sundays.
Find more of my work at mazsmuses.com or follow along @mazsmuses.