Established | 1999 |
---|---|
Location | Kharkiv, Ukraine |
Type | Sex museum |
Collections | Antiquities, photography |
Architect | Valeriy Aksak |
The Museum of Sexual Cultures (Ukrainian: Музей сексу і сексуальних культур світу, romanized: Muzey seksu i seksual'nikh kul'tur svitu) is a scientific and educational museum, which explores the sexual cultures of a number of countries. The first of its kind in both Ukraine, and in post-Soviet Eastern Europe,[1] it is located in Kharkiv.
The museum was established in 1999 by the Department of Sexology and Medical Psychology of the Kharkiv Medical Academy.[1] Based on the collection of Valentin Kryshtal,[2] it is the first of its kind in any post-Soviet country, as well as the first in Ukraine, the museum reflects the sexual cultures of a number of countries.[3][4] It was designed by the architect Valery Aksak.[5] In 2021 a similar museum opened in Kyiv.[5]
The museum has ten exhibition halls, which can only be visited once a person is over eighteen – the age of consent in Ukraine.[6] The museum also hosts a gallery aimed at teenagers, where youth-led events are held and that audiences over the age of 15 can attend.[6][7] Topics such as intimacy, and sexual orientation are included in the interpretation.[8] Particular attention is paid to the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, especially AIDS.[1]
The collection includes antiquities, prints and drawings and contemporary collections of photography and ephemera.[9] It also includes a medieval chastity belt.[3] There is a statue of Priapus to which visitors can make offerings.[10]
The museum's retail offer is a sex shop.[1] In response to Ukraine's COVID-19 vaccination campaign, the museum was one of a number of cultural institutions that Ukrainians could visit for free using their vaccination voucher.[11]