A bronze bust of Janet Emsley, which is on permanent display at Rochdale Town Hall, was created by artist Kara Lyons during Janet’s year as Rochdale mayor
Janet was a teacher and director of performing arts at Wardle High School until her retirement in 2015. As a councillor she represented Littleborough Lakeside from May 2014 to May 2026, and was the mayor between May 2025 and May 2026. Janet was also a longstanding member of Arts Council England’s North Area Council.
Kara, who is based at Ebor Studio in Littleborough, said: “Janet taught all three of my children, we go back a long way, so there was added pressure on this one to get it right!
“She has worked tirelessly to support the arts and I hope this is a fitting tribute to her year as mayor too.
“I don’t think we celebrate female civic leadership enough, and I’d like to see women represented in public spaces as much as men are. It’s important that young women see female role models.”
The sculpture was commissioned as part of the town’s year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture and funded by Arts Council England.
