Games Hackathon – STARTS Youth Tour: a creative journey led by Viana do Castelo’s youth

by The Place for Arts-Driven Blue Innovation Discover the project

The Games Hackathon – STARTS Youth Tour travelled across the municipality of Viana do Castelo between September and November, engaging more than 300 young people in the mission of imagining the future of Viana STARTS through the power of play, while introducing them to the project that is taking shape in the city.

Promoted by the Municipality of Viana do Castelo within the scope of the Viana STARTS project and its partners, the initiative encouraged the active participation of young citizens in the development of creative solutions that combine science, technology and the arts.

More than a competition, the STARTS Youth Tour was a co-creation experience. Each session functioned as a living laboratory, where participants explored community challenges and transformed their ideas into physical, hybrid or digital games. The methodology adopted fostered discovery, reflection and the design of proposals in a playful format, stimulating critical thinking, collaboration and the ability to communicate results.

The process was supported by facilitator Viviane Pecaibes, who led pitch-training and presentation exercises, and by the artistic contribution of Ricardo Ferreira (Artematriz). Both helped young people translate complex topics such as biodiversity, politics, nutrition, artificial intelligence and social responsibility into accessible and engaging game mechanics.

After seven sessions across different parishes of the municipality, the semifinalist teams gathered for the grand final at VianaCon, hosted at the Cultural Centre of Viana do Castelo. The finalists presented their games before an audience of participants, educators, experts and members of the creative community. The winning game was Animal Creation, designed by Andreia Ferreira, a 12th-grade student. The proposal challenges players to create hybrid animals capable of surviving on different planets of the solar system, exploring concepts of genetics, adaptation and biodiversity.

Two teams received Honourable Mentions: Emprata, a game developed by Guias de Viana do Castelo, focused on gastronomy and nutrition through the creation of balanced meals for different profiles, and Eu Quero Mandar, a game about electoral campaigns and the role of digital technology in decision-making.

Through this youth-centred journey, the Games Hackathon – STARTS Youth Tour transformed play into a tool for civic expression and participation. The young creators had the opportunity to turn imagination into concrete prototypes, contributing meaningfully to a new urban narrative in which innovation and creativity drive the future. Viana STARTS continues to expand its collaborative ecosystem.

This EUI-co-funded project is transforming the former Municipal Slaughterhouse into Viana STARTS, a space for innovation, creativity and sustainability.