World's First 'Vagina Museum' to Open in London
The world’s first vagina museum will open in Camden Market after a successful financing campaign.
The museum–which will open after amassing around $65,000 in a crowdfunder–will deliver its first exhibition called “Muff Busters: Vagina Myths and How To Fight Them,” in an effort to demystify the vagina.
According to The Evening Standard:
The project began in March 2017 as a pop-up after director Florence Schechter realised that there are plenty of penis museums – such as the Penis Museum in Iceland – but no such equivalent for the vagina.
While digital collections exist, including the Vaginamuseum project from Austrian artist Kerstin Rajnar, this will be the first ever physical museum dedicated to the vagina and vulva.
“This is a part of the body that should be celebrated,” says Schechter. “The museum is a fantastic way to spread the message that there is nothing shameful or offensive about vaginas and vulvas.”
The Vagina Museum will also run an outreach programme to support inclusive, healthy sex and relationships education, and engage with medical professionals to provide better services for the trans and intersex communities.
There are plenty of museums dedicated to the male appendage around the world, which inspired the need for a counterpart.
The Vagina Museum website states:
Our Story
There is a penis museum in Iceland. Which is pretty cool. But there is no vagina equivalent anywhere in the world.
We were pretty miffed (muffed?) when we learnt this but we thought, there’s only one way to rectify this.
Make one.
The project was launched in 2017 and started with pop ups around the country including exhibitions and events.
We are opening our first premises in Camden Market in 2019 with a view to start work on our permanent premises within the next few years.
The mission of the museum is as follows:
01.
Spread knowledge and raise awareness of the gynaecological anatomy and health02.
Give confidence to people to talk about issues surrounding the gynaecological anatomy03.
Erase the stigma around the body and gynaecological anatomy04.
Act as a forum for feminism, women’s rights, the LGBT+ community and the intersex community05.
Challenge heteronormative and cisnormative behaviour06.
Promote intersectional, feminist and trans-inclusive values
In 2016, a Turner Prize exhibition opened with a giant buttocks sculpture.
A local London council came under fire for hosting an event on taxpayer money which recorded bowel movements and sex toys.
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