Following on from the broadcast email letter to members ‘Calling time on full face black makeup’, on 3rd July 2020, here are some of the frequently asked questions from members.
See all our Face Paint pages:
- Main Face Paint FAQ page
- Face Paint Guidance
- Face Paint Incidents (this page)
- Historical references to face paint
- Legal and Insurance issues
- Photos for Publicity, Web and Social Media
- Archive Photos
Incidents/Problems involving Face Paint
- Some venues/events have changed their policy to deter teams that wear full face paint of any colour and/or that could look black in certain circumstances, e.g. EFDSS Policy of Face Painting [PDF].
- Some venues/events have asked us to deter performers with full yellow face or full red face.
- Publicity Photos that look like full face black makeup at a glance have caused funding to be withdrawn (see * below).
- Smudgy black face paint is too easily taken as full face black.
- Black face paint while leaving white skin showing around the eyes and mouth very much resembles minstrelsy.
(*) We were contacted regarding an issue with photographs of Morris sides used in the publicity before and after a Day of Dance. This was not a Morris Federation event, but the morris coordinator was a member of one of our teams. The photographs, although not of full-face black make-up, were of sufficiently dark coloured face paint as to appear black to the naked eye at a quick glance. This prompted the local council to withdraw funding from the Day of Dance, despite the morris co-ordinator’s measured and evidence-based defence.
Whilst this is not a Morris Federation issues of itself, complaints have a wider effect on the entire morris community. It is indicative of the kind of challenge and difficult situation member sides may encounter in the event of someone perceiving dark-coloured face paint (or unfortunately lit / black and white photographs on social media) as full-face black make-up.
Conclusion
We would like to remind our members that perceptions do matter, and can have lasting effects, and reiterate the need for caution in choosing face paint designs. As the example above highlights, it is important to consider the potential impact of images shared on social media, including those shared by members of the public over which you have no control. Face paint, even when not full-face, may be open to misinterpretation when captured from certain angles or in low light.
We understand face paint is a part of kit, but to err on the side of caution and avoid unwanted attention or potential provocation of situations, we strongly recommend incorporating patterns and designs which are not so open to misinterpretation; perhaps a simple stripe or dotted pattern, with high-contrast shades, would help in evidencing your efforts to avoid offence, and doable for all. We are aware that situations such as the above may cause feelings of uncertainty or hesitation over suitability of your own team’s make-up usage, but by incorporating small changes you could help make a big difference in not only your own team’s confidence surrounding use of face paint but also ensure those witnessing your performance are comfortable, too.
There is no doubt that the tide is turning against full-face paint as part of a Morris/Molly/Border kit. There are national organisations that now will refuse to book teams wearing full face paint of any colour as it is too easily misinterpreted, particularly in black-and-white photography; other institutions refuse to have those wearing red or yellow whole face paint as it can easily be perceived as mocking people from ethnic minority backgrounds (see 1 below). Smudgy and/or dark-coloured full-face paint, whilst seemingly an alternative, is frequently put on too heavily and again looks black and fully covered; some folk festivals are now refusing some long-standing attendees because of this. Black paint on cheeks, chin, and forehead, leaving eyes and mouth skin coloured is redolent of minstrelsy and all the negativity that is associated with that.
Being refused attendance at festivals or other events is incredibly hurtful to our members, who may genuinely feel they are complying with the letter of our guidance. However, we urge all teams in the three Morris Organisations to bear in mind that it is not the intent that is the issue, but the interpretation that will result in perhaps many weeks or months of antagonism following a complaint to the team itself.
Whilst The Morris Federation has no mandate to tell its members what to wear, we urge all teams using full covering face-paint to look at examples of clear patterned face art; you can see some creative examples at https://www.morrisfed.org.uk/for-teams/face-paint-guidance/
Feedback
If you have any questions, or anything at all you wish to discuss with us on this topic, or any experiences of moving away from full face black makeup, or statements from your team that you wish to share, please do email us at feedback@morrisfed.org.uk.
Last updated: June 2026
