Igniting a spark needs people who bring the fire.
We bring you together with our Creative Igniters and local communities to inspire you to play.
Never play alone. Each Creative Playground is guided by people from diverse backgrounds who inspire and encourage you to explore without fear or judgment. They create a welcoming atmosphere that connects you with the place and its people. They share their creative sparks, which you carry back into everyday life.
Meet the Igniters
Alessandro Brandolisio
Ana Couto
Elodie Correia
Francisca Cortesão
Paula Costa
Rita Cortes
Rita Pureza
Stefan Saak
Teresa Negrão
Tiago Faria
Local Igniters
Every Playground’s location brings people who couldn't exist anywhere else.
Local Igniters know the land, the light, the rhythm of a place. And they make us see the world through their eyes.
They aren't support staff or local color. They are an integral part of each Creative Playground experience.
This is the elderly lady telling her stories while baking bread with you, the fishermen who grills the fish he just caught, joining our dinner, or artisans immersing us in their craft they carry on for generations. They are what you’ll carry home in your heart.
"I believe people would be happier if they were more connected to their creativity."
And even though I believe that, I ran into a dead end.
I worked as a designer and creative professional for more than ten years. But the pressure to constantly deliver outcomes, be more productive and efficient, without having time to breathe or think twice, wore me down.
I hit a wall, burned out, and found myself stuck in a creative void.
I had lost the lightness that once helped me approach challenges with curiosity and fun.
The memory of my childhood, when I wanted to become an inventor, showed me a way forward. I gave myself space to explore what inspired me, connect with energizing people, and engage in playful activities without expectations. The shift in perspective made me realize that creativity was directly linked to my happiness.
This led me to found Creative Playground in 2025: to build a community that explores, connects, and plays with the joy and lightness necessary to find unexpected solutions to what felt impossible before.
Alessandro Brandolisio
Founder | Connector of Playful Minds
Upcoming Playgrounds to meet your new playmates
The Monastery
Alentejo
07-13 September 2026
The Village
Dão
05-11 October 2026
The Cliffhouse
Algarve
30 November - 06 December 2026
Questions about our team and the group
Are the Creative Igniters trained therapists or coaches?
Some might be, others are not. Each one of them has a unique approach to creativity that they like to share with you. They know when to push and when to pull – or when to leave you be. It is the mix of disciplines and backgrounds that we carefully assemble to give you just the right amount of guidance and input when you need and ask for it.
Generally, they are just genuinely great people that you want to spend time with.
Will I have the same team for the whole week?
Yes. Trust and connection are not built in one day or two. Our core team usually consists of one Creative Host and two to three Creative Igniters, depending on the group size. They will be part of your entire Creative Playground journey. And you can stay in touch with them long after returning home (through our community).
Besides the core team, we invite or visit Local Igniters on a regular basis. They set impulses, join or facilitate small workshops and share their knowledge, stories or craft with you.
What if I find the creative work challenging or uncomfortable?
Creativity can sometimes feel challenging or uncomfortable. But that’s normal for everyone. We all learned to favor perfect outcomes over experiments and the right answers over better questions. That mindset shift can be hard work. While we invite you to try out as many new things as possible, to play freely, and find what inspires you and brings you joy, our activities are always optional. You don’t feel like it? Rather take a walk or sit in the grass to watch the sunset (oh, we might join you on that one!)? Please do it. Each participant should have the Creative Playground experience they need the most.
What if I don't connect with the group?
While our careful selection of participants for each group through our application process should take care of this, we can never predict the final group dynamic. Our team will make sure that everyone participating is heard, seen and feels belonging to the group. If all these measures still don’t work, rest assured that we always have an open ear for your concerns, problems, or feedback when something isn’t going as you had hoped for. We are all humans and that means treating each other with the respect, honesty and dignity we deserve. If you want to know more, please check our Playground Rules.