culture
February 26, 2026
Canchimalos: 50 Years of Cultural Work in La América
On the first floor of the Canchimalos Cultural Corporation (Calle 47DD #88-24, Santa Lucía) there is a painted portrait of a man with half his face shaved and the other half covered by a beard. This is Óscar Vahos, the artist who fifty years ago created a group that combined music, dance, and live arts. Over time, and after changes in name and workplaces, that group became Canchimalos.
TL;DR
- Canchimalos was founded fifty years ago by artist Óscar Vahos, evolving from a group that combined music, dance, and live arts.
- The corporation's headquarters, purchased in 2022, includes a small theater with a capacity for 50 people.
- Canchimalos engages with its neighborhood through events like the annual September festival, "talent nights," and "Chocolateando con Canchimalos" gatherings.
- The organization relies on scholarships, public funding, benefactors, donations, and income from performances and workshops, supported by 70 volunteers.
- It offers integral artistic education for children and workshops in folklore, theater, and dance for youth and adults, with its theater collective and musical choir as its main projection groups.
- Canchimalos is preparing a year-long celebration for its 50th anniversary, including a rebranding, new theatrical productions, and the 16th Encuentro de Juegos y Rondas Infantiles.
- The founder's pedagogical approach, called "prelogical," was based on game-finding cultural 'DNA' within popular tradition and culture.