Jane Austen’s House Museum: We're at risk of closing permanently

This is not a drill: The Jane Austen’s House Museum could close by the end of the year because of a coronavirus-related budget crisis.

The house in Chawton, Hampshire, where Austen completed her six novels and lived for the final eight years of her life, relies solely on visitor fees, reports the Guardian — it doesn’t receive public funding.

With its doors closed to visitors, staffers are on furlough, but the museum still seeks £75,000 (about $94,500) to ensure its survival.

As of 1:45 p.m. Central today, though, the crowdfunding campaign had already raised 35 percent of that goal.

Read more about the Jane Austen’s House Museum’s struggle in the Guardian and check out its fundraising page on Just Giving.

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