The Vagina Museum is set to close its physical site after it received notice to vacate its premises at Bethnal Green by the end of this week.
The charity moved into the property in March last year through a property guardianship arrangement, so it was aware that it may be asked to leave at short notice.
In a statement, the charity said it was “disappointed that it has come so soon” but “will continue to operate in the digital world as we search for a new home”.
The charity is searching for a new vacant space and told Civil Society News that much of the Vagina Museum’s income is dependent on being open, with in-person donations and gift shop sales forming a substantial stream. “We’re therefore asking for support from anyone who can help us,” it said.
Admission to the Vagina Museum was free, and it was the world’s first bricks and mortar museum dedicated to vaginas, vulvas and the gynaecological anatomy. The project launched in March 2017 and ran pop-ups around the UK.
‘Times are, once again, uncertain for us’
Its statement added: “We’re sad about this development, but incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished in the 10 months we’ve been at our Bethnal Green premises. We’ve welcomed more than 40,000 visitors through our doors, and received so much love and positive feedback.
“In our time at Bethnal Green, we’ve once again demonstrated just how much the world needs and wants a Vagina Museum.
“Times are, once again, uncertain for us, but we’ve been through this before and risen stronger than ever.”
Indeed, in early 2022 the museum moved to the venue in Bethnal Green after losing the lease on its previous premises in Camden in September 2021.
The charity had been approached by ENTER, a collective and creative hub who had secured the property guardianship in Bethnal Green, and it invited the charity to share the space.
A spokesperson told Civil Society News: “As a guardianship, we were always aware of the possibility we could be asked to leave at very short notice, which is what has happened. We and ENTER have both been asked to leave, and we are not aware of the landlord's future plans for the site.”
They added: “Because a property guardianship is not a secure and permanent premises, we have been searching for a new premises for the last few months. This notice to vacate has made the search more urgent.
“We're optimistic by being public about our situation that we will be able to make connections which will enable us to reopen in a new space in the near future. During our time in Bethnal Green, we’ve proved that we’re able to transform an empty, unused office building into a thriving cultural space and we’d love to speak to any people or organisations who would like to give the Vagina Museum a home.”
Its last day open to the public will be Wednesday 1 February, and at 7pm Wednesday it will be holding a final tour of the space.
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