The fair began in 2009 and has evolved through various Santiago venues. Our corrected Ch.ACO 2025 archive includes records from the earlier GAM edition. The organiser’s 2026 retrospective documents the subsequent move to Metropolitan, where the 2027 fair is also announced. Following these locations provides a clearer history than assuming the event has always taken place at a single venue.
What Has Changed Since 2026
The announced dates shift from 25–29 March 2026 to 17–21 March 2027. Metropolitan remains the named venue, while Ibáñez’s Art Projects direction gives the new edition a defined curatorial focus. The final galleries, works, and activity schedule will reveal further changes; earlier exhibitor and visitor totals should remain linked to their actual year.
Interesting Fact
Ch.ACO’s first edition in 2009 featured a deliberately disarming motto: «No entender es un buen comienzo.» Not understanding was presented as a beginning. This is an unusually useful proposition for an art fair, where the pressure to form an immediate opinion can make unfamiliar work seem like a problem to be solved quickly.
The phrase suggests another way of visiting. Start by describing what you can actually see, then ask what remains uncertain. A puzzling material choice or an image that resists a familiar interpretation can sustain a better conversation than a quick declaration of liking or disliking. Curiosity becomes a practical tool for looking.
