Factotum is both an arts organisation and artists' project that was formed in 2001 by Stephen Hackett and Richard West. They publish The Vacuum newspaper, put on exhibitions, publish books and make films. In the past they have also run a choir, staged contemporary dance events and organised talks. In 2005 Factotum won a Paul Hamlyn Award for the Visual Arts and participated in Northern Ireland's first showing in the Venice Biennale.[1][2] In 2007 they were selected for the Irish Curated Visual Arts Award by the artist Mike Nelson.[3] Factotum's work often involves collaborating with a wide range of other arts organisations, artists and writers.