The Cultura em Jogo Forum brought together game developers and cultural experts at a Niterói museum, opening a free interactive exhibit through April 5.
On March 21, the Museu Antônio Parreiras in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, hosted the Cultura em Jogo Forum — an unprecedented gathering of cultural professionals, game developers, researchers, and representatives of the creative economy. The event tackled a forward-looking question: what role can games and emerging technologies play inside museums?
The initiative stands out precisely because it took place within a museum setting. Wallace Almeida, curator of museums at the Fundação Anita Mantuano de Artes do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FUNARJ), called it a first for the institution.
“I find this event genuinely innovative, particularly for FUNARJ’s museums. I cannot recall another initiative that has promoted a forum on games and culture within a museum space. This is very meaningful, especially for the cultural scene in Niterói and the state of Rio. The proposal establishes a powerful dialogue between youth, technology, and the museum — a meeting that has every potential to produce very positive results.” — Wallace Almeida, FUNARJ museum coordinator
Four panels, broad perspectives
The program unfolded across four themed panels, each exploring a different dimension of digital culture’s relationship with heritage institutions.
The first panel, Gamification in Cultural Spaces, moderated by Willian Silva, featured Priscila Seixas from Burburinho Cultural and Márcio Filho, president of the Rio de Janeiro State Game Creators Association, sharing hands-on strategies for audience engagement in museums.
The second panel, Local Game Productions and Independent Narratives, moderated by Emanuelly Araujo, gave the floor to Kim Kaznowski from Double Dash and DJUFF, who discussed the creative processes and challenges facing independent developers in the greater Rio metropolitan area.
The third panel, Emerging Technologies and Trends in Digital Culture, also moderated by Emanuelly Araujo, explored artificial intelligence and immersive experiences with Filipe Calixto from Odu Studios, Joyce Santos from Olabi, and Wanderson Santos from the Rio State Geek Culture Producers Association.
The forum closed with Women Online: Intergenerational Technology, moderated by Selma Boiron. The panel brought together Laurinha do Camarão — a well-known figure from Charitas beach who spoke about how social media transformed her life — and Medusa, a streamer and content creator who reflected on women’s visibility in the gaming world.
Real stories turned into an interactive game
The forum’s closing ceremony also marked the official opening of “Where Are the Women of the Waters — The Game.” The exhibition transforms real-life stories of fisherwomen, shellfish gatherers, street vendors, and waterfront workers into a participatory, game-based experience.
Built on the foundation of the earlier “Women of the Waters” exhibition, this new version evolves into a digital language, inviting visitors to explore these narratives through gameplay. The project reinforces a commitment to female protagonism and broadens access to these stories through technology.
By weaving together innovation, memory, and inclusion, the Cultura em Jogo Forum solidifies its place as a model aligned with FUNARJ’s mission to keep museums alive, relevant, and connected to contemporary audiences.
Event Info
- Exhibition: “Where Are the Women of the Waters — The Game”
- Venue: Museu Antônio Parreiras — Rua Tiradentes, 47, Ingá, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
- On view through April 5, 2026
- Free admission
Photo: Divulgação
