Vagina Museum In London Pleads Against Being Discharged From Its Premises
Image via The Vagina Museum
London’s museum—and the world’s first-ever physical one—dedicated to vulvas, vaginas, and all things related has shared some disheartening news: it’s at risk of losing its bricks-and-mortar space, and time is swiftly running out.
The Vagina Museum hosts exhibitions both permanent and temporary with works of art dedicated to the subject matter. Its current exhibit is Periods: A Brief History, aiming to remove stigma from something that more than half the global population experiences.
In permanent galleries, objects like menstrual cups and artworks like diagrams of the vaginal anatomy aim to provide inclusive and empowering education.
After opening in 2019 with the mission to remove the taboo around gynecological anatomy and encourage conversation, the museum has occupied the same shop space in Camden, North London, but the pandemic has seen it struggle to keep business afloat. However, the museum’s current lease is coming to its end, and the landlords aren’t renewing it. A clothing shop will replace the museum in time to come.
We’d prefer not to air our linens in public (unless we’re showing you how vaginal acidity is normal). But we need to say something, and we need to ask your help. The pandemic has been rough for the entire museum sector. Now the Vagina Museum is at risk of becoming homeless.
— Vagina Museum (@vagina_museum) August 2, 2021
Camden Market has offered an alternative venue for the collection to find a new home still within the market, but the team declined, as it’s on a top floor and would “effectively relegate the Vagina Museum to the top shelf and out of sight.” It’s not ideal, the team explains in a tweet.
“’Vagina’ is not a dirty word. It should be visible within the community, battling the shame attached to the word, not hidden away like a dirty mag.”
The Evening Standard reports that ever since the call for help was posted on Monday, the museum has met an outpouring of positivity and support.
The museum is asking for assistance in the form of a museum space, storage space for the collection in the worst-case scenario, and donations to keep it afloat, and those able to help are encouraged to contact [email protected] for more information.
We’ve made it through the pandemic, and with you at our side, we can make it through this. If you can help us in any way, please drop us an email.
— Vagina Museum (@vagina_museum) August 2, 2021
In vulval solidarity,
The Vagina Museum team x
[via The Art Newspaper, image via The Vagina Museum]
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