The Vagina Museum is facing fresh fears over its future as it launches a GoFundMe fundraiser to pay a large rent bill due at the end of March.
The bill will drive the charity below its minimum reserves limit and force it to permanently close unless it manages to raise £60,000 in the next two weeks.
At the time of writing, it had raised over £14,000 of its target.
The Vagina Museum exists to end the stigma and shame surrounding vaginas and vulvas and curates the world’s first brick-and-mortar museum about the female reproductive system. It operates out of a space beneath redeveloped railway arches in Bethnal Green, east London.
The space has been the Vagina Museum’s home since 2023 when it managed to raise more than £85,000 after being forced out of its previous east London premises due to its property guardianship of the space ending.
The charity, which is looking for other long-term funding, says that if its renewed call for public support is also successful, it may then be able to “enter a growth phase”.
‘Battered from all sides’
Writing on its GoFundMe page, the Vagina Museum said: “We are battered from all sides.”
The charity cited crises in arts and culture, and in reproductive, women’s and LGBT+ rights around the world. “This had a serious impact on our short- and long-term sustainability.”
This month is “make-or-break”, according to the charity, which said the large rent payment it is expected to pay will drive reserves below their minimum limit.
The charity claimed it has attempted negotiations with its landlords, who are “aware of the situation” but “refuse to exercise discretion”.
It added: “If we do not meet our target, we will see what is possible with the funds raised.
“If it is enough for us to continue operations for another few months, we may be able to stay while looking for longer-term funding,” the charity said.
“We are currently operating with the smallest possible budget and the smallest possible team, who work hard to bring you world-class exhibitions, events and engagement.”
Charity Commission data for the year to June 2023 shows that the Vagina Museum’s total annual income was £183,010.
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