Camden’s Vagina Museum in London is being forced to close after failing to extend its lease amid claims of “institutional patriarchy” by the founder.

The Vagina Museum, which claims to be the first and only one in the world, and which is based in Camden Market in the UK capital London, will close on 24th September when its current lease with the company LabTech comes to an end.

Set in a prime location in London’s trendy area of Camden, the museum aimed to break the stigmas and taboos concerning female genitalia.

After first launching in 2017 and moving locations around the UK, the museum found a fixed home in Camden in 2019.

Two years ago, Camden Council said they were “incredibly excited” to accommodate the museum, adding that it would improve “our collective understanding of our bodies”.

Despite support from the local council, LabTech has reportedly refused to extend the lease and the Vagina Museum has failed to find a new permanent home elsewhere.

Museum founder Florence Schechter said a number of property owners in London were approached, but they all declined to house the museum and gave no reasons why.

She is quoted as saying “it feels really sh*tty” after being led to feel that “institutional patriarchy” was at play in their decision.

Schechter said she first launched the museum in 2017 when she realised there was nothing similar to the Icelandic Phallological Museum in Reykjavik – which claims to house the world’s largest collection of penises – anywhere else.

After starting out as pop-ups around the UK, the Vagina Museum found its home in London two years ago and helped to make a positive change in its short time in the capital.

Following its last exhibition called ‘Periods’, nearly 90 percent of attendees said they left knowing more about female menstruation than before.

After the COVID-19 lockdown, over 25 percent of visitors said they went in just because they were passing by and were intrigued by what the museum had to offer.

Schechter said: “I would have really liked it to be in Camden, I’m a resident and that’s why I got it in the first place. It was a local story.

“Lots of people are saying how Camden is getting really gentrified. Now with us gone, there’s going to be less that’s living in that rebellious Camden spirit.”

Until the museum can find a new permanent home, Schechter said the team will operate online for now, adding: “We’re going to act as though it was the pandemic, it gave us loads of practice on how to operate without a physical space.”