Dundee women celebrated in international exhibition in Germany

The exhibition has opened in Germany (Picture: Supplied)

Two pioneering Dundee women are being recognised on the international stage after becoming part of a major exhibition in Germany celebrating courage, leadership and social change across generations.

Emma Caird and Agnes Husband are representing Dundee in Courage Can Be Contagious – Notable Women in Würzburg and Its Sister Cities, an exhibition in Würzburg exploring the lives and legacies of remarkable women from across its international twinning network.

Their inclusion builds upon four years of work through the Small Steps – Dundee Women's Trail project, a partnership between The McManus, Dundee Schools Library Service and Dundee Women's Trail, which aims to make the stories of influential Dundee women more visible and accessible.

Emma Caird (1849–1927), born into Dundee's prominent jute industry, devoted much of her later life to philanthropy. Her generosity helped clear the debts of Dundee Royal Infirmary, contributed towards the completion of Caird Hall, supported war veterans and funded travelling scholarships, allowing students to study overseas.

Agnes Husband (1851–1929) was a suffragist, social reformer and one of the first women elected to Dundee City Council. Throughout her career she championed better housing, education and welfare, campaigned for women's suffrage and became Dundee's first female Justice of the Peace.

The Dundee contribution to the exhibition was co-ordinated by Cheryl McDermid, Creative Learning Officer at The McManus, with portrait interpretation by Art Curator Kirsty Matheson and high-resolution imagery sourced by Registrar Lili Bartholomew.

As part of the project, the David Foggie portraits of Emma and James Caird have now been formally accessioned into Dundee's fine and applied art collection.

Speaking about the exhibition, Cheryl McDermid said: "This is a wonderful opportunity to share Dundee's stories on an international stage. The Small Steps project is about making women's history visible and relevant and this collaboration shows how those stories connect across cities and generations."

The original portrait of Agnes Husband remains on permanent display in The McManus' Making of Modern Dundee gallery, while Emma Caird's portrait can be viewed within the Caird and Marryat Halls complex during events or by appointment.

The exhibition runs at Würzburg International until 9 July 2026, with an online version remaining available until at least the end of the year.