Art and Culture Outreach (ACO) began in 2003 when they aided the Dawei Charitable Foundation in restructuring the residential units of Foo Tak Building in Wanchai into affordable spaces for artists and cultural entities. Between 2005 and 2010, ACO also operated an artist residency programme for overseas art and cultural practitioners. With the opening of their independent bookstore, ACO_books on Foo Tak Building's first floor in 2008, ACO was formally established.