From creating games to producing digital content, including audiovisual, design and entrepreneurship, the NEON 2026 Creativity Arena brings together experts and professionals to discuss a topic that is increasingly present in the economy: how to transform creativity into business, career and regional development. The first day of programming was dedicated to the fundamentals of the creative economy from the gaming universe.
One of more than ten simultaneous spaces at NEON 2026, the largest innovation and entrepreneurship event in the Northeast, the Arena promotes a day of debates and experiences aimed at training talent, generating opportunities and strengthening creative businesses. Over the three days of the event, experts, entrepreneurs and creators share ways to transform ideas into products, careers and structured markets.
Among the highlights of the program is the games industry, which brings together representatives from Alagoas and other states to discuss game development, market, education, marketing, audiovisual and the construction of creative ecosystems.
Game developer, educator and entrepreneur Wenes Soares opened the program this Thursday (11), with the lecture “The Art of Developing Games”, presenting the game creation process and the current scenario of the sector in Brazil and abroad.
According to Wenes, one of the main challenges for the area’s growth is still expanding access to information about existing opportunities in the market. “There is a lot of misinformation about the games sector. My objective is to show that there is a structured market, with real career opportunities”, he highlighted.
Wenes Soares shared ways to transform passion for games into career and entrepreneurship opportunities | Photo: Disclosure
For him, the training of new professionals involves not only technical mastery, but also understanding the market. The expert also highlighted the growing interest of young people in the sector. “I have seen more and more children, teenagers and young people seeking to understand how game development works. Many have not yet started, but are already showing curiosity and a desire to learn. This shows that we are training a new generation of professionals for this market, which continues to grow and generate opportunities”, he stated.
Another highlight of the first day was the panel “Yes! Games are audiovisual works”, presented by Thêmis Monteiro and Márcio Filho. The discussion expanded the perspective on games beyond entertainment, reinforcing their potential as cultural, technological and economic products capable of generating intellectual property, business, employment, income and innovation.
Creativity as a driver of innovation and development
The arena’s programming was structured to cover different stages of the creative chain, connecting creation, development, market and industry. In the coming days, themes such as creative entrepreneurship, cultural identity, creator economy and new business models will gain prominence, showing how creativity can transform into a career, enterprise and income generation.
In addition to the content presented, the space stands out for bringing together different actors in the sector: creators, entrepreneurs, educators, representatives of associations, public policy organizers and leaders of creative ecosystems. This diversity expands the understanding of games and other segments of the creative economy as complete production chains, involving technology, narrative, art, music, programming, management, communication and business.
The presence of representatives of ecosystems from different states, such as Amazonas, Rio Grande do Norte, Minas Gerais, Paraíba and Rio de Janeiro, also highlights the decentralized and collaborative growth of the sector in the country.
Entrepreneurs, creators and experts from various states connected to strengthen the Brazilian creative ecosystem | Photo: Disclosure
For Thêmis Monteiro, an analyst at Sebrae Alagoas, Arena’s proposal is to demonstrate that creativity goes beyond artistic expression and is consolidated as a vector of economic development. “The Arena Criatividade is NEON’s space dedicated to showing the power of the creative economy as a vector of innovation, entrepreneurship and development. From the agenda of games, digital culture and creative businesses, the arena highlights how Alagoas has been strengthening its ecosystem, training talents, connecting actors and transforming creativity into economic opportunity”, he points out.
With debates focused on professional training, business generation and the construction of new markets, Arena Criatividade reinforces the role of the creative economy as one of the most promising areas for regional development, connecting talent, innovation and entrepreneurship in the same space.
Source: www.agenciasebrae.com.br
