{{for|the virtual museum and online art project, established in 2014 |Vaginamuseum}} {{for|the equal and opposite counterpart|Icelandic Phallological Museum}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}} {{Infobox museum | name = Vagina Museum | logo = Vagina Museum Logo.png | image = | established = March 2017 | website = {{URL|vaginamuseum.co.uk}} | map_type = United Kingdom Greater London | former_name = | location = [[London]], [[UK]] | type = [[Museum]] | visitors = 119,000 (2020) | founder = [[Florence Schechter]] }} The '''Vagina Museum''' is the world's first [[brick and mortar]] museum about the [[female reproductive system]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/vagina-museum|title=The World Needs a Vagina Museum|first=Sarah|last=Laskow|date=28 April 2017|publisher=Atlas Obscura}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.refinery29.uk/2017/09/169513/vagina-museum-london|title=Why I'm Opening The World's First Museum Dedicated To Vaginas|website=Refinery29|first=Abigail|last=Moss|date=4 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.cosmopolitan.de/vagina-wissen-gibt-es-bald-das-weltweit-erste-vagina-museum-79927.html|title=Vagina Wissen: Gibt es bald das weltweit ERSTE Vagina-Museum?|magazine=Cosmopolitan|lang=de|date=26 April 2017|trans-title=Vagina knowledge: Will there soon be the world's FIRST vagina museum?}}</ref> The project is based in the United Kingdom, and moved into its first fixed location in [[Camden Market]], London, in October 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/arts/vagina-museum-camden-market-first-exhibition-a4240221.html|title=World's first vagina museum to open in Camden Market with myth-busting free exhibition|date=18 September 2019|publisher=London Evening Standard}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49753320|title=Vagina museum in London aims to 'banish shame'|date=18 September 2019|publisher=BBC New UK}}</ref> Its first exhibition opened on 16 November 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/love-sex/a26905783/vagina-museum-opens/|title=The world's first vagina museum opens in London|date=17 November 2019|publisher=Cosmopolitan}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2019/11/16/worlds-first-vagina-museum-now-open-london-11167828/|title=World's first vagina museum now open in London|date=16 November 2019|publisher=Metro London}}</ref> It moved to its second premises in [[Bethnal Green]] in March 2022 where it remained until February 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vagina Museum in search for new home following second eviction |url=https://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/news/2023/01/vagina-museum-in-search-for-new-home-following-second-eviction/ |website=Museums Association |date=31 January 2023 |access-date=2 February 2023}}</ref> It reopened in its next long-term home in two railway arches in Bethnal Green in November 2023.
== Description == The Vagina Museum was founded by [[Florence Schechter]] in response to a lack of gynaecological representation within the culture and heritage sector throughout the world. The museum usually hosts two temporary exhibitions per year which explore a multitude of topics surrounding gynaecological health, social history, activism and discourse, as well as an events programme of talks, workshops, comedy, theatre and performance art.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Banfield-Nwachi |first=Mabel |date=2023-10-09 |title=London's Vagina Museum to reopen after surpassing fundraising goal |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/oct/09/londons-vagina-museum-to-reopen-after-surpassing-fundraising-goal |access-date=2025-01-11 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
== History == The project to create the Vagina Museum was launched when the founder, [[Florence Schechter]], discovered there was a [[penis]] museum in Iceland, the [[Icelandic Phallological Museum]], but there was no equivalent for the [[vagina]] or [[vulva]].<ref name="metro.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://metro.co.uk/2017/04/12/why-this-woman-is-campaigning-to-open-the-worlds-first-vagina-museum-6570119/|title=A woman is campaigning to open the world's first vagina museum|date=12 April 2017|publisher=}}</ref>
=== 2017–2018: Pop up phase === The museum's first event, a comedy fundraiser, was held on 19 May 2017 headlined by Hayley Ellis.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.stylist.co.uk/travel/this-woman-is-crowd-funding-to-create-the-worlds-first-vagina-museum/8079|title=Someone is crowd-funding to create the world's first vagina museum|date=25 April 2017|magazine=Stylist|first=Hayley|last=Spencer}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://mashable.com/2017/04/10/vagina-museum/|title=There's a museum for penises, but not for vaginas, yet that could change|first=Rachel|last=Thompson|website=[[Mashable]]|date=10 April 2017|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2017/04/10/36098/comics_raise_cash_for_a_vagina_museum#%3C|title=Comics raise cash for a vagina museum|website=Chortle|date=10 April 2017}}</ref> It has run a number of events since, including participating in a [[Artist-in-residence|residency]] with The Mothership Group called Superculture.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/arts/a-vagina-museum-is-coming-to-london-a3618566.html|title=A vagina museum is coming to London|date=23 August 2017|newspaper=Evening Standard|first=Jessie|last=Thompson}}</ref> Events as part of this residency have included a talk on "Vulvanomics" by [[Emma L. E. Rees]], author of ''The Vagina: A Literary and Cultural History'', and a screening of the 2007 film ''[[teeth (2007 film)|Teeth]]'' (see ''[[vagina dentata]]'') followed by a Q&A with Amanda DiGioia, the author of ''Childbirth and Parenting in Horror Texts: The Marginalized and the Monstrous'' and various comedy nights.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://londontheinside.com/a-vagina-museum-is-opening/|title=a vagina museum is opening|website=London On The Inside|date=23 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.timeout.com/london/blog/whats-happening-with-the-vagina-museum-083017|title=What's happening with The Vagina Museum?|magazine=Time Out|first=Katie|last=McCabe|date=30 August 2017}}</ref> They have also held events at [[Limmud]] Festival 2017<ref>{{cite web|url=https://events.limmud.org/limmud-festival-2017/programme/presenters/S/|title=Limmud Festival 2017 - Presenters: S|website=events.limmud.org}}</ref> and the [[Royal Institution]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rigb.org/whats-on/events-2018/february/public-valentines-day-vaginas|title=Valentine's Day vaginas|website=The Royal Institution|access-date=25 January 2022|archive-date=15 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215040014/https://www.rigb.org/whats-on/events-2018/february/public-valentines-day-vaginas|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The museum held its first exhibition in August 2017 in Edinburgh, Scotland.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://information.tv5monde.com/terriennes/avec-florence-schechter-au-royaume-uni-un-musee-du-vagin-en-gestation-214222|title=Avec Florence Schechter, au Royaume-Uni un musée du vagin en gestation|date=14 January 2018|website=TV5 Monde|first=Julia|last=Gaulon|lang=fr|trans-title=With Florence Schechter, a Vagina Museum is in gestation in the UK}}</ref> Its second [[Pop-up exhibition|pop up exhibition]] was called "Is Your Vagina Normal?",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://culturacolectiva.com/art/the-vagina-museum-interview-with-founder-florence-schechter/|title=Discover The Museum That Will Be Dedicated Solely To Vaginas|date=February 2018|website=Cultura Colectiva|first=Maria|last=Suarez}}</ref> and it travelled around the UK to Ancient House, Thetford,<ref>{{cite web|title=The Vagina Museum Comes to Ancient House, Thetford|url=https://www.visitnorfolk.co.uk/inspire/Ancient-House-Vagina-2018.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927160521/https://www.visitnorfolk.co.uk/inspire/Ancient-House-Vagina-2018.aspx|archive-date=27 September 2018|website=Visit Norfolk}}</ref> Brainchild Festival 2018,<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://brainchildfestival.co.uk/lineup/is-your-vagina-normal/|title=Is Your Vagina Normal?|website=Brainchild Festival 2021}}</ref> SQIFF 2018,<ref name="auto"/> and Museums Association Conference 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.museumsassociation.org/news/08082018-festival-of-change-belfast-2018|title=Festival of Change line-up unveiled for Belfast 2018|website=Museums Association|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216094136/https://www.museumsassociation.org/news/08082018-festival-of-change-belfast-2018|archive-date=16 February 2019|first=Geraldine Kendall|last=Adams|date=8 August 2018}}</ref>
In the 2017 [[Women Of The Future Awards|Women of the Future Awards]], Schechter was commended in the arts and culture category for her work with the Vagina Museum.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://awards.womenofthefuture.co.uk/our-alumni-category/2017/|title=Women of the Future Awards shortlist 2017|website=Women of the Future Awards}}</ref>
A permanent museum was proposed with exhibitions on gynaecological anatomy from science to art to culture,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.timeout.com/london/blog/this-woman-wants-to-create-the-worlds-first-vagina-museum-in-london-and-she-needs-your-help-042117|title=This woman wants to create the world's first Vagina Museum in London and she needs your help|magazine=Time Out|first=Alexandra|last=Sims|date=21 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/vagina-museum-deserve-florence-schechter-women-learn-consent-health-education-equality-penis-iceland-a7655901.html|title=Vaginas deserve their own museum according to this woman|newspaper=The Independent|date=29 March 2017|first=Kashmira|last=Gander}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://indy100.com/article/vagina-museum-campaign-florence-schechter-amsterdam-7682741|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613043209/https://www.indy100.com/article/vagina-museum-campaign-florence-schechter-amsterdam-7682741/|archive-date=13 June 2017|title=This woman is trying to open a vagina museum|date=13 April 2017|first=Jessica|last=Brown}}</ref> which was to be trans-inclusive.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thedebrief.co.uk/news/real-life/vagina-museum/|title=Meet The Millennial Science YouTuber Who Is Setting Up The World's First Vagina Museum|date=20 August 2023 |publisher=}}</ref> [[File:Visitors at the Vagina Museum exhibition "Muff Busters - Vagina Myths and How To Fight Them".jpg|thumb|359x359px|Visitors at the inaugural exhibition "Muff Busters - Vagina Myths and How To Fight Them"]]
=== 2019: Camden Market premises === On 21 March 2019, the Vagina Museum launched a crowdfunder to raise money to open a premises in Camden Market.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/arts/vagina-museum-camden-market-opening-a4097436.html|title=The Vagina Museum will open in London this year — with your help|date=2019-03-21|website=Evening Standard|language=en|access-date=2019-03-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theworld.org/stories/2019/03/21/vagina-museum-launches-crowd-fund-initiative|title=The world's first Vagina Museum opens this fall in the UK|website=Public Radio International|date=21 March 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-03-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://divamag.co.uk/2019/03/20/could-you-help-make-the-worlds-first-vagina-museum-become-a-reality/|title=Could you help the world's first Vagina Museum become a reality?|first=Anezka|last=Turek|date=20 March 2019|magazine=DIVA|access-date=24 January 2022}}</ref>
The project was supported by [[Camden London Borough Council|Camden Council]], and leader of Camden Council Georgia Gould said: <blockquote>Camden has a proud and radical history of challenging prejudice and orthodoxy, however, we acknowledge that the stigma associated with talking about gynaecological health has meant ignorance, confusion, shame, and poor medical care for too many. 65% of 16-to-25 year olds say they have a problem using the word vagina or vulva with almost half of 18-to-24 year old women say they are too embarrassed to talk about sexual health issues. We are therefore incredibly excited that the Vagina Museum is seeking to establish in Camden, and hope that it is funded to provide an inclusive and intersectional centre for learning, creativity, activism, and outreach that will add immeasurably to our collective understanding of our bodies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://advisor.museumsandheritage.com/blogs/crowdfunder-launched-make-worlds-first-physical-vagina-museum-reality/|title=Crowdfunder launched to make world's first physical Vagina Museum a reality|website=Museums + Heritage Advisor|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-03-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://funnywomen.com/2019/03/21/the-vagina-museum-needs-your-help/|title=the Vagina Museum needs your Help!|date=2019-03-21|website=Funny Women|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-03-23}}</ref></blockquote> The crowdfunder raised £48,945<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/vaginamuseum|title=The Vagina Museum needs your help to open|website=crowdfunder.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-10-11}}</ref> and in October 2019, the museum moved into Camden Stables Market<ref name="auto1"/> and began a programme of events. It opened its first exhibition, ''Muff Busters: vagina myths and how to fight them'' in November 2019. This exhibition was scheduled to end on 29 March 2020, but closed a few days earlier due to national lockdown restrictions in the UK. The next exhibition, ''Periods: A Brief History''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vaginamuseum.co.uk/pages/future-exhibitions|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220205545/https://www.vaginamuseum.co.uk/pages/future-exhibitions|archive-date=20 February 2020|title=Future Exhibitions – Periods: A Brief History – 4 April - 25 October 2020|website=Vagina Museum}}</ref> opened on 21 May 2021.<ref>{{cite news|title=London's Vagina Museum is set to reopen this month with an exhibition dedicated to the history of menstruation|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/05/10/vagina-museum-london-reopen-history-periods/|website=Pink News|first=Maggie|last=Baska|date=10 May 2021}}</ref>
In August 2021, the museum announced that its landlord had decided not to extend its lease beyond September.<ref name=Atkinson>{{cite news |last=Atkinson |first=Rebecca |date=24 August 2021 |title='Outpouring of support' as Vagina Museum seeks new home |url=https://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/news/2021/08/outpouring-of-support-as-vagina-museum-seeks-new-home/ |work=Museums Association News |access-date=24 August 2021}}</ref> The Camden Market site closed but the museum retained its online presence while it sought a new premises.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Stylist|title=Vagina Museum: people share how the vital Camden space changed their view on vaginas|url=https://www.stylist.co.uk/news/vagina-museum-camden/569211|date=27 September 2021|first=Leah|last=Sinclair}}</ref> On 22 February 2022, it announced a relocation to 18 Victoria Park Square in [[Bethnal Green]] and a scheduled reopening date of 19 March 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mills |first=Eleanor |date=22 February 2022 |title=Vagina Museum finds new premises |url=https://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/news/2022/02/vagina-museum-finds-new-premises/ |access-date=2022-03-03 |website=Museums Association |language=en-US}}</ref> [[File:Vulva diversity display in the permanent exhibition at the Vagina Museum at its Victoria Park Square location.jpg|thumb|262x262px|Vulva diversity display in the permanent exhibition at the Victoria Park Square location]]
=== 2022–2023: Victoria Park Square, Bethnal Green premises === On 19 March, the Vagina Museum reopened at 18 Victoria Park Square in [[Bethnal Green]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-22 |title=The World's First Vagina Museum Is Right Here In London |url=https://secretldn.com/vagina-museum-london/ |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=Secret London |language=en-GB}}</ref> The museum opened with its exhibition ''Periods: A Brief History'', along with a new permanent exhibition titled ''From A to V.''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Jessie |date=2022-03-18 |title=A warm welcome: inside the Vagina Museum's new home in Bethnal Green |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/exhibitions/vagina-museum-new-home-bethnal-green-first-look-b988274.html |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}}</ref> Prior to the reopening, the museum was advertised on billboards in the vicinity with cheeky puns about other local businesses in the area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vagina Museum "Neighbours" by TheOr London |url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/vagina-museum-neighbours-theor-london/1749191 |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=www.campaignlive.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>
The Vagina Museum closed its original Bethnal Green premises on 2 February 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-25 |title=Finding a new home — Vagina Museum |url=https://www.vaginamuseum.co.uk/newhome |access-date=2023-03-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225214306/https://www.vaginamuseum.co.uk/newhome |archive-date=25 February 2023 }}</ref>
=== 2023–present: Poyser Street, Bethnal Green premises === Following a fundraising drive in 2023 raising over £85,000 in which over 2,500 people donated, the museum found new premises on Poyser Street, Bethnal Green.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Banfield-Nwachi |first=Mabel |date=2023-10-09 |title=London's Vagina Museum to reopen after surpassing fundraising goal |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/oct/09/londons-vagina-museum-to-reopen-after-surpassing-fundraising-goal |access-date=2024-02-12 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> It signed a lease with The Arch Co for six years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barker |first=Sam |date=2023-05-26 |title=The Vagina Museum Has Found A New Home And Will Reopen Next Month |url=https://secretldn.com/vagina-museum-new-home/ |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=Secret London |language=en-GB}}</ref> The museum reopened in November 2023, initially on the ground floor only as lifts were not yet available. A range of temporary exhibitions are planned, with the first one about [[endometriosis]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/oct/09/londons-vagina-museum-to-reopen-after-surpassing-fundraising-goal|title=London's Vagina Museum to reopen after surpassing fundraising goal|first=Mabel|last=Banfield-Nwachi|date=9 October 2023|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> Its first exhibition in its temporary gallery, titled "''Endometriosis: Into The Unknown"'' was created in collaboration with Oxford EndoCare, part of the Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, and the Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics based at the [[University of Oxford]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hardaker |first=Alistair |date=2023-10-09 |title=Vagina Museum to reopen "bigger and better" Bethnal Green site next month |url=https://advisor.museumsandheritage.com/news/vagina-museum-to-reopen-bigger-and-better-bethnal-green-site-next-month/ |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=Museums + Heritage Advisor |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2024, the Vagina Museum opened two further galleries, a "community gallery" and a permanent exhibition gallery. During [[Pride Month|Pride]] 2024, the [[Crab Museum]] in [[Margate, Kent|Margate]] hosted a temporary exhibition in partnership with the Vagina Museum.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dontmissmargate.substack.com/p/dont-missthe-kiwi-weekender-mariokart|title=Don't Miss...The Kiwi Weekender, Mariokart & Vagina Museum|work=Don't Miss Margate|date=11 August 2024|accessdate=16 March 2025}}</ref> In October 2024, to mark [[Black History Month]], the Museum announced that the galleries would be named after the "Mothers of Gynecology", Anarcha, Lucy and Betsey.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hardaker |first=Alistair |date=2024-10-04 |title=Vagina Museum renames galleries in honour of 'Mothers of Gynaecology' trio |url=https://museumsandheritage.com/advisor/posts/vagina-museum-renames-galleries-in-honour-of-mothers-of-gynaecology-trio/ |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=Museums + Heritage Advisor |language=en-US}}</ref>
==See also== *[[Culture and menstruation]] *[[Icelandic Phallological Museum]] *[[List of sex museums]] *[[Vagina and vulva in art]] *[[Vulva activism]]
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{commons category inline|Vagina Museum}} * {{official website|http://www.vaginamuseum.co.uk}} * [https://twitter.com/vagina_museum Vagina Museum] on Twitter * [https://www.instagram.com/vagina_museum/ Vagina Museum] on Instagram * [https://facebook.com/vmuseum Vagina Museum] on Facebook *[https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/vaginamuseum Vagina Museum Crowdfunder] {{Sex museums}}
[[Category:2017 establishments in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Vagina and vulva in art]] [[Category:Museums established in 2017]] [[Category:Sex museums]] [[Category:Vagina]] [[Category:Sexuality in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Medical museums in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Grade II* listed buildings in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets]]