The Vacuum

The Vacuum is a free newspaper published in Belfast, Northern Ireland by the arts organisation Factotum.

Each issue is themed and contains critical commentary about the city and broader cultural issues. The paper is distributed in bars, cafes and other public spaces. It was first published in January 2003.

A Topical Newspaper

Each issue of The Vacuum is centred on a topical theme, around which writers and artists are commissioned to produce articles and illustrations. These themes can be open-ended – such as in the 'Fantasy' issue when contributors were simply asked to describe one of their fantasies – or more specific such as the 'Nostalgia' issue which contained articles on 'Troubles Nostalgia' and 'Marketing Nostalgia'. Most issues contain a range of writing from social commentary, through satire to farce, focused on one area of discussion. Rarely does The Vacuum avoid controversy, no matter what its chosen issue. Some of the past topics have included: