Update regarding the capital building project

The trustees of the East End Women’s Museum have announced that their opening in Barking in 2023 will no longer be going ahead. The project would have been a landmark moment, as both the only women’s museum in England and one aiming to be the first in the world to use an all-women construction team.

The successful fundraising efforts of the museum came via grants from trusts and foundations in the arts sector, crowdfunding campaigns and individual donations. This enabled the project team to successfully complete RIBA stage 3, with exciting plans created for the space that had been offered to them by London Borough of Barking and Dagenham council (LBBD).

Sadly, due to difficulties with finalising the lease beyond the museums control, the museum was unable to accept some of the funding grants they had been awarded, making the project unviable. Despite exploring multiple avenues, it was not possible to agree a way of working that was acceptable to all stakeholders.

It is therefore with huge regret and sadness that the project will not be moving further forwards.

A spokesperson for the museum said: “We are beyond disappointed that we won’t be moving into the building in Barking. The Board, our volunteers, supporters, and the project team have worked so hard to make this a reality. We are sad and frustrated we have got to this point.  

However, we know that we will find the space that is right for the museum in the future. The support we have received and the work that has been completed to date means we know that more than ever, a museum like ours is needed to tell the stories of the great women in history.  

Whilst this is the announcement we never wanted to make, we do want to take the opportunity to say thank you to the local community and our volunteers for their ongoing support and sharing their stories, and to the funders that believed in us. We look forward to working with you and continuing to make history together”

In its short life so far, the Museum has existed as pop-up events and exhibitions, everywhere from high streets to schools to pie shops.  It is vital that the Museum exists in the world, and the Museum and its Board of trustees are committed to continuing to forge trusted community partnerships across East London to deliver new exhibitions, events, schools and community programmes.