Conference for the Arts 2026

Estêvão Marques is an artist, teacher, and researcher rooted in the Brazilian tradition, combining songs, musical instruments, dances, and stories in a creative way. He is a teacher at the "International Orff Course San Francisco, USA" and the "Orff-Schulwerk Certification Course in Spain". Estêvão shares his knowledge about children's games, music, and his own playful pedagogy in courses around the world: Brazil, Austria, United States, Turkey, Colombia, Uruguay, Netherlands, Portugal, Hong Kong, Italy, Germany, Thailand, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Taiwan, Spain, Argentina, and Australia. He is the author of more than 20 books on art and education and the Director of the online course "Educando pela Brincadeira". He has played with groups of great importance in the music scene, such as "Palavra Cantada", "Chico César", "Grupo Triii", "Antônio Nóbrega", and the group "Barbatuques".

Play with Tradition. Music Games from Latin America

In this keynote, the audience are invited to rediscover the vibrant traditions of Latin American music games and their power to bring people together through rhythm, movement, and song. Drawing on folklore and community practices, the session explores how simple musical games connect body, voice, and culture while creating joyful and meaningful learning experiences. Through this lens, we are reminded that music is not only performed—it is shared, lived, and celebrated.

Play with music

Music games are a fun and effective way to learn music. They help develop creativity, cognition, and a love of music. This course is a transformative experience for teachers, parents, and anyone who wants to enrich children's lives through the magic of music and play. We will learn traditional Latin American songs in a fun and creative way. Each song creates an engaging scenario for different group activities, filled with educational concepts that are easily assimilated by the children. These activities include traditional instruments but also body percussion, spoons, cups, hula hoops, balls and many other alternative ways to make music. This course is for teachers, parents, and anyone who believes in the educational value of music games.

Batucada song

A Workshop to play and create musical arrangements in group. Sing, dance and have fun! The rhythm is related to the time of each syllable in the song. We will be able to hear the melody, in the sounds of body percussion.
It starts with simple challenges and little by little the game becomes more challenging. You will find songs that are part of the repertoire of children's games, traditional songs from different countries and songs composed by Estêvão Marques.

Kirilee Cosplay is a cosplayer from Perth, Western Australia. She has been cosplaying since 2014 and has won awards locally, nationally and internationally for her craft. Kirilee has represented Australia three times internationally at the World Cosplay Summit (Japan), Art to Play (France) and the Cosplay Central Crown Championships (USA). She has also been a cosplay guest, judge, MC and panelist at conventions and events around the globe.
For the last 9 years, she has been sharing her love of cosplay via her YouTube channel, creating long form content of crafting tutorials, vlogs and general discussions about cosplay.

Cosplay: Multidisciplinary Art and Absolute Fun!

What is Cosplay and why are there so many young people around the world participating in it? Join Kirilee Cosplay as she explains what cosplay is and how it is a hybrid art form with a real life example.

Design a Cosplay

Designing your own cosplay should be easy right? Well, maybe think again. In this workshop we will explore choice of materials, develop an understanding of how closures and fixtures work and of course, design your own cosplay. By the end of this workshop, you will have a cosplay plan that is actually something that can be made.

Cosplay Photography

Not all photography is the same. And cosplay is its own discipline. Join us for a photoshoot where attendees will get the chance to model and be a photographer, as we explore the unique blend of artistic and portrait photography - with a bit of drama as well... all on just your own smartphone.