A third edition of the 'Small Steps' Dundee Women's Trail leaflet has been launched to allow children and families to learn more about some of the notable women connected to Dundee.
Between October and December 2023, The McManus's Creative Learning Team worked alongside Dundee Libraries and Dundee Women's Trail to provide 92 primary five pupils from Downfield and St Clements Primary Schools the opportunity to create a third edition of a child-friendly leaflet, based on the original 'Small Steps' leaflet launched summer 2022.
The project involved the delivery and creation of a third resource to help young people investigate seven more women from the existing Dundee Women's Trail who have made significant contributions to society in Dundee and beyond.
Included in this edition are Victoria Drummond - a marine engineer, an Anonymous maidservant who fought for better working conditions, Margaret Fenwick - a trade unionist and mill worker, Mary Anne Baxter - who founded university college to promote education for women, Frances Wright - an early campaigner for human rights, Alice Moorhead and Emily Thomson, two of only 101 women doctors of their time.
The project was delivered through a mixture of off-site school workshops and a visit to The McManus for a tour and a hands-on printing workshop. Through portraiture, storytelling and comics, the children created and imagined what life would have been like for these women, and the artwork they created informed the third 'Small Steps' leaflet.
The exhibition of work created throughout this three-month project will now open to the public at Kirkton Community Library and Charleston Community Library until the end of the school Easter holidays. Publication of the Small Steps leaflet will be used in schools across Dundee, local libraries and the museum as a legacy from the project and educational resource for years to come.
Sharron Phin - Learning & Engagement Assistant: Communities at The McManus, said
"This has been an exciting opportunity for Cultural services and Libraries within Leisure & Culture Dundee to collaborate with Dundee Women's Trail and help create this wonderful child-friendly version of the existing resource. The children involved expressed how much they enjoyed working alongside local artists in their classrooms, learning about these influential women and how they helped shape our city. Before participating in this project, many of the participants had never visited The McManus before. Watching their enthusiasm, knowledge and creativity develop throughout this project has been incredible!"
Elaine Hallyburton, Libraries Service Manager (Children's Library and Information Services) at Leisure & Culture Dundee said
"This has been a fantastic partnership project to be involved in. Huge thanks goes to Moira Foster, the artists and children who have worked so hard to bring some notable Dundee women alive to a new generation."
Moira Foster, Chairperson for Dundee Women's Trail, said
"We are delighted to be part of a project introducing the Dundee Women's Trail to children and families in such an innovative way. The pupils involved learn a huge amount whilst having loads of fun working with professional artists, what a great combination."
This project is a partnership with the Dundee Women's Trail, Dundee School Library Service and The McManus: Dundee's Art Gallery & Museum. The original Dundee Women's Trail commemorates twenty-five pioneers, suffragettes, inventors and social reformers with informative blue plaques in and around the City Centre.