London’s Vagina Museum is reopening in its new permanent home in Bethnal Green next month after closing down in February this year.
The world’s first museum dedicated to vaginas, vulvas and the gynaecological anatomy will reopen to the public on 4 November on Poyser Street in Bethnal Green with an exhibition titled ‘Endometriosis: Into the Unknown’.
According to the Vagina Museum, the new exhibition is “a voyage of discovery which combines myth-busting, lived experience, and the cutting-edge of science as we explore this common, life-changing condition”.
“We wouldn’t be opening if it wasn’t for you, our wonderful community of people who believe in the Vagina Museum,” the museum wrote on Instagram.
“Earlier this year, we posted a plea for support. It was nearly beef curtains for us. You rallied together, and collectively we raised £90,000 to enable us to move into our new home. We’re absolutely chuffed to invite you inside.”
The Vagina Museum made its debut in 2017 with pop-up exhibitions and events. In 2019, it opened in Camden Market before moving to east London in March 2022.
In Camden Market, the museum’s inaugural exhibition was titled ‘Muff Busters: Vagina Myths and How to Fight Them’. Its exhibitions in Bethnal Green were called ‘Periods: A Brief History’ and ‘From A to V’.
New endometriosis exhibition
After the museum was forced to shut its east London premises in February this year when its property guardianship came to an end, it launched a crowdfunding campaign.
“It was a make or break scenario,” Zoe Williams, head of communications, told The Guardian.
“We genuinely didn’t know how successful it would be, especially in the cost of living crisis when so many people in our community are really feeling the pinch… it’s just wonderful.”
“The new Vagina Museum home is bigger and better than ever before,” added Florence Schechter, founder and director of the museum.
Images courtesy of the Vagina Museum
