The Musical Museum in Brentford has launched a £60,000 fundraising campaign which it said it needs to keep its doors open.
The fundraising campaign, which is launched on the museum’s 60th anniversary, will support a growing shortfall in operating income.
On its fundraising page, it warned that without additional support it could close permanently as soon as this year (2024).
The museum houses working instruments, displays and interactive exhibits which tell the story of how music has been recorded and reproduced.
Explaining the situation on its GoFundMe page, it said a temporary closure during the pandemic “took a deep toll” on its finances, and it has since suffered with bills “rising beyond all expectations”. Its most recent quarterly fuel bill was over £7,000, it said.
The funds raised will be used to meet bills for lighting, heating and essential building maintenance, it said, having “always depended on the generous support of our visitors and friends” in the past to meet gaps in its income.
“The Musical Museum is more than just a fun, educational and diverse collection of self-playing instruments, inventions and music rolls,” the fundraising page reads.
At the time of publication the museum had raised £12,900, around 21% of its £60,000 goal.
