UK’s Videogame Museum launches emergency appeal amid closure fears

The UK’s National Videogame Museum says it could be forced to close permanently if the coronavirus pandemic results in a prolonged shutdown.

The Sheffield-based attraction – the UK’s only museum dedicated to video games – has launched an emergency appeal to raise £80,000 through Just Giving to help it can remain open. At the time of publication, it’s received approximately £3,000 (4% of its target) in donations.

The National Videogame Museum houses almost 100 playable exhibits, a large collection of video game heritage objects, and hosts school workshops and family events designed to educate and inspire the next generation of players and creators.

It’s run by charity the BGI and attracted some 40,000 visitors in 2019.

“Coronavirus threatens its very existence,” said Ian Livingstone CBE, a trustee at BGI.

“As a new charity, we have no safety net of public funding to weather the storm. Whilst we have support from some patrons and companies, without visitors the museum is in grave danger.

“If you care about videogames, please, please donate in any way you can.”