Cambridge's Fashion History Museum gets much-needed extension to move collection
The museum now has 2 months to pack and move everything in their care
The Fashion History Museum in Cambridge now has two months to move its collection after the city granted them extended access to the building.
In a news release Thursday, the City of Cambridge said, "the Fashion History Museum (FHM) contacted the city of Cambridge on Tuesday, March 18 at 1:19 p.m. to request until May 19, 2025, to remove items from the building."
"The city has been flexible throughout this process, and had already informed FHM staff that they will have access to the space until May 19, as originally requested by the Chair of the Fashion History Museum," the release continued.
The museum was originally asked to vacate the building by March 31 after the city ended its lease. The city cited significant unpaid rent totalling approximately $140,000 since 2023 as the reason for the lease termination.
Kenn Norman, co-founder of the Fashion History Museum, told CBC News he's hopeful the extension should give them enough time to move the museum's collection.
"It's certainly not slowed down our pace," he said. "This was the time that we needed in order to do this in an orderly fashion, and to be responsible for the collection being safeguarded in this transition period."
Campaign's impact
The release also mentioned the "unnecessary campaign" the FHM launched on the same day they requested for the extension. The release said the campaign requested "members of the public contact city staff and members of council to request an extension to the 14-day timeline to vacate."
"City staff were, and are, prepared to grant the museum's request for additional time through a permission to enter agreement," the release explained.
"Public input was not necessary."
Norman said the campaign may have had an impact on the city's decision.
"I imagine it was that campaign that changed the minds of council, or the City of Cambridge to extend the opportunity for us to have the proper time to actually do this," he said.
"We know that they've had a lot of responses from the public."
The release said the city has been "fair and reasonable throughout this process, and appreciates the need for additional time to vacate and make alternate arrangements."
With the extension granted, the museum now two months to safely move its collection, and find a new home.