As they do every year, art gallerists, collectors and professionals from around the world will throng to ARCO8, the Madrid International Contemporary Art Fair, for an edition presenting a renovated layout and restructured programming. New proposals for a revamped architectural design will be some of the attractions on view at this 27th edition de ARCO (13 - 18 February, 2008), along with Brazil’s starring role as special guest country and a high-end selection bringing together 295 galleries from 34 countries, with more than 50 major new exhibitors. Of this total, 224 galleries were selected by the Organising Committee for the General Programme, which will feature a new section for the very latest contemporary art (ARCO40). Moreover, a prestigious international team of curators will present a fascinating selection for the Solo Projects and Expanded-Box sections, as well as for the new section Performing ARCO, which will showcase live performance art for the first time at ARCO. In addition to the Brazilian galleries and artists that will be presenting their works at ARCO, a number of museums, institutions and art centres throughout Madrid will join in with an extensive programme of exhibitions, concerts and music based on a Brazilian theme Brazil will be the focal point of the International Contemporary Art Fair, ARCO, one of the most outstanding events on the international art circuit that stages its 27th edition in Madrid between 13th and 19 February 2008. The participation of some 20 Brazilian galleries -selected by Moacir dos Anjos and Paulo Sergio Duarte -, together with the organisation of more than a dozen exhibitions devoted to relevant figures from the Brazilian art scene, to be staged in the main museums and art centres in Madrid, will contribute to boost one of the most significant up-and-coming cores within the current art scene. Sales success achieved at ARCO´s last edition and the exponential growth rate of the art market in Spain have exacerbated the interest of gallery-owners and international buyers, generating great expectations for 2008 edition which will be welcome a selection of some 200 prestigious galleries from more than 30 countries. An elaborate Guest Collectors Programme will bring together a number of outstanding figures from the field of art collecting at this edition, who will be attending the fair from all over the world. ARCO will feature a strong Brazilian participation and will provide a meeting forum for collectors from Europe, North America, Asia and Latin America who attend this grand event attracted by the world class quality of its galleries and artistic initiatives and by the dynamic nature of the Spanish market. Together with the Programme devoted to Brazil, ARCO’08 will also provide a unique framework for the setting of a series of initiatives that will be located in the new Halls 12 and 14, at Feria de Madrid. This new location has enabled to create a new space layout and the design of strictly defined artistic sections. At this new edition, galleries will be structured around the following sections: • General Programme, the heart of the Fair that brings together top galleries from all over the world The new feature of this space will be the segmentation of its proposals that will include ARCO40, a selection of galleries featuring recent works by a maximum of three artists in 40 square metres fixed spaces, producing a new perspective of current art scene. In addition to the exhibition spaces set aside for the galleries, the Major Collections programme will also present the exhibition projects of a number of public and private bodies involved in creating contemporary art collections. This overview of the art world will be completed by the attendance of a large number of Contemporary Art Publications. Featuring different areas for magazines and publishing companies, these participants will offer visitors the opportunity to view the best publications on art and artistic thought on the international scene. This extensive art exhibition will be strengthened by a varied programme of coinciding activities, featuring a series of interesting shows and events relating to different manifestations of contemporary creation. Ranging from cinema to concerts, not to mention the most innovative creative ideas, visitors to ARCO´08 will find the very best examples of up-and-coming art in all their diversity. In order to provide a preview of Brazil´s participation at the next edition of the fair, ARCO will present ´La Noche en Blanco´, a cultural event staged in Madrid on the evening of 22nd September that will bring together a total of 173 artistic and cultural activities, including performances by Shada Shada La Chatte and the Brazilian artists, Assume Vivid Astro Focus (AVAF).