The Amazing Margaret Morris

Harem Dancers 1920s- Margaret Morris Collection, The Fergusson Gallery © IAMMM

Why is this case study relevant?

This case study is a good example of shaping, developing and enhancing collections by obtaining additional funding and supporting advice to enable staff and volunteer development, form new partnerships and share knowledge. The project demonstrates forward thinking around product and audience development and enables obvious business development opportunities. A new collection has emerged into the public eye and it has helped to promote wider awareness and understanding of the development of modern dance.

What were the aims of the project?

Arts Officer Jenny Kinnear: “The principal aims were to preserve and improve accessibility of the Margaret Morris Collection, which was held in private hands and in much need of better housing to ensure its long-term survival. We also wished to bring to light Margaret’s vast talent as an artist, dancer, choreographer, movement therapist and writer, and her fascinating life with the Scottish Colourist John Duncan Fergusson. The collection had never been seen by the public before, and it was apt that we showcase it in 2010, the centenary year of the Margaret Morris Movement”.

What happened?

The main areas of work for the project were:

• The collection was brought to Perth and two new storage areas of high density units and rolling racking were installed at The
Fergusson Gallery. Conservation standard materials such as solander boxes were purchased.

• Two conservation surveys were commissioned from the Scottish Conservation Studio, one of the costume collection and the other of the archives. Later in the year, two Art Officers and a technician attended a training day at the SCS, learning much about the basic cleaning of paper archives and drawings. The new skills were used to prepare items for display and also passed on to volunteers working with the collection.

• Using much of the information gained in the Conservation Reports, a three year Collections Management Plan was drawn up.

• A volunteer project using two student volunteers from St Andrew’s University Museum Studies postgraduate course ran from Nov 2009-March 2010. This focussed on sorting the collection into categories, greatly increasing its accessibility, ready for accessioning.

• To publicise the remarkable gift of the collection, we curated two exhibitions showcasing material from the collection; Fergus & Meg and Dancing as an Art, 100 Years of Margaret Morris Movement. For this, we purchased a number of mannequins and display heads and hatstands in order to display some of the wonderful dance costumes in the collection. Dancing as an Art also included live footage of Margaret Morris dancing in 1936, and a DVD of the IAMMM performance at the Albert Hall in London, showing dancers wearing several of the original costumes. The exhibitions were officially opened by the Life President/Artistic Director of IAMMM, Jim Hastie, with a live performance of MMM dancers in the Gallery. Events were also programmed for the MMM Centenary year, including an exhibition tour, a Showscotland weekend event in collaboration with IAMMM, and a family art day as part of the Big Draw.

• To develop our links with the University of Stirling (who were gifted 15 Fergusson works by Margaret Morris in 1968) we created a display of 30 digital images of Margaret Morris and her dancers, taken from original photographs. This was shown in their Crush Hall from February until May 2010.

What was learned?

Much was learned by Fergusson Gallery staff from this project, including:

• Greatly increased knowledge of both Margaret Morris and Fergusson, as their two rich collections are now brought together adding strength to each other.
• Conservation knowledge that will have a long-term benefit as it is used and passed on to others working with the collection.

It is also hoped that the project will be a first step in:

• Extending and embedding links already made, such as those with IAMMM, University of Stirling and University of St Andrews, and make new partnerships, for example with Scottish Dance Theatre.
• Engaging with new audiences.
• Making the MMM collection fully accessible through adequate storage and cataloguing.

What is the wider relevance?

It has brought a new collection into the public eye and also raised awareness and understanding of the importance not only of their Recognised Fergusson collection but of the collaborative work and influence of this unique partnership and of Margaret Morris’s influence over modern dance.

The foundation has been set for much wider international partnership, collaboration and research, and the opportunity for future developments such as touring the collection, developing learning resources and arts development for wider audiences will now be possible after the next phases of the project. Please read the linked case study ‘The Margaret Morris Collection – Phase 2’ on this website.

How was this project promoted?

They liaised with Perth & Kinross Council’s Media Unit to publicise the inaugural exhibitions. Press releases resulted in coverage in local and national press, TV and radio. They created a web page, and articles were included in specialist publications such as Scottish Art News. They also put together a leaflet promoting the MMM centenary year and worked with IAMMM to include information on their principal centenary events.

What type of evaluation was done?

A touchscreen visitor feedback system was put in the Dancing as an Art show from Feb-May 2010. It’s findings in the first six weeks of opening have shown:

• 45% of visitors have come specially to see the MMM collection.
• 54% have never visited the Fergusson Gallery before.
• Over 60% of visitors were aged over 50.
• Over 65% rated the exhibition in the ‘excellent’ category for exhibition content, welcome and overall experience.
• Over 55% rated physical access to the exhibition as ‘excellent’.
• It also gives details of where they heard about the exhibition, where they were from and how they travelled to Perth.
(details taken from 185 questionnaire returns)

Specially tailored questionnaires will also be used for our events.

The Dancing as an Art exhibition includes an invitation for visitors to complete a Memory Card. This aims to build an archive of memories of Margaret Morris and MMM before many of those who knew her are no longer around to pass on this valuable information and memories. Comments to date have included;

“My late Mother became a member of MMM in Glasgow and all her life thereafter… This exhibition is truly wonderful and makes me feel so much closer to my late Mum”.

“Meg Morris inspired a generation of dance teachers… I feel sure that every Scottish child benefitted from her efforts to liberate the freedom and learning that dance can bring.”

For Further Information

The project manager is Jenny Kinnear, Arts Officer, Perth and Kinross Council and she can be contacted at JKinnear@pkc.gov.uk or call 01738 783421.

Image credits:
1 – Harem Dancers 1920s- Margaret Morris Collection, The Fergusson Gallery © IAMMM
2 – Margaret Morris Collection – Harem Dancers 1920s © IAMMM
3 – Margaret Morris Collection – Handpainted Costume © Perth and Kinross Council