Stunning Bronze Bust of Rochdale Mayor Unveiled to Celebrate Female Leadership
Rochdale Greater Manchester — In a landmark celebration of female leadership and creativity, a striking bronze bust of the Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Janet Emsley, has been officially unveiled at Rochdale Town Hall.
The sculpture was commissioned as a centerpiece of Rochdale’s tenure as the Greater Manchester Town of Culture. Funded by Arts Council England, the artwork is intended to serve as a lasting tribute to the borough’s female pioneers and the creative talent that defines the region.
The bust was created by renowned artist Kara Lyons, who is based at the Ebor Studio in nearby Littleborough. For Lyons, the project was deeply personal. Having known the Mayor for many years, she admitted that the task was a, "tough commission", yet it resulted in what many are calling a powerful representation of civic duty.
The bust is part of a broader movement to address the historical lack of female representation in public art. Lyons and Emsley are both vocal advocates for increasing the number of statues and sculptures featuring women across Greater Manchester, a situation which was famously highlighted in 2016 when the statue of legendary singer and comedian Dame Gracie Fields was unveiled in Rochdale. That monument was the first statue of a woman to be erected in Greater Manchester since the statue of Queen Victoria over 100 years earlier.
A Permanent Tribute The bust has now taken its place on permanent display within the historic walls of Rochdale Town Hall, joining a magnificent collection of art that tells the story of the borough’s rich heritage.
As Rochdale continues its year as the Greater Manchester Town of Culture, this, "powerful combination", of Kara Lyons’ artistic vision and Janet Emsley’s leadership stands as a testament to the town's commitment to the arts and gender equality.
With more projects reportedly in the pipeline, local residents can likely look forward to even more unveilings as the town continues to celebrate its diverse history and leadership.
The sculpture was commissioned as a centerpiece of Rochdale’s tenure as the Greater Manchester Town of Culture. Funded by Arts Council England, the artwork is intended to serve as a lasting tribute to the borough’s female pioneers and the creative talent that defines the region.
The bust was created by renowned artist Kara Lyons, who is based at the Ebor Studio in nearby Littleborough. For Lyons, the project was deeply personal. Having known the Mayor for many years, she admitted that the task was a, "tough commission", yet it resulted in what many are calling a powerful representation of civic duty.
The bust is part of a broader movement to address the historical lack of female representation in public art. Lyons and Emsley are both vocal advocates for increasing the number of statues and sculptures featuring women across Greater Manchester, a situation which was famously highlighted in 2016 when the statue of legendary singer and comedian Dame Gracie Fields was unveiled in Rochdale. That monument was the first statue of a woman to be erected in Greater Manchester since the statue of Queen Victoria over 100 years earlier.
A Permanent Tribute The bust has now taken its place on permanent display within the historic walls of Rochdale Town Hall, joining a magnificent collection of art that tells the story of the borough’s rich heritage.
As Rochdale continues its year as the Greater Manchester Town of Culture, this, "powerful combination", of Kara Lyons’ artistic vision and Janet Emsley’s leadership stands as a testament to the town's commitment to the arts and gender equality.
With more projects reportedly in the pipeline, local residents can likely look forward to even more unveilings as the town continues to celebrate its diverse history and leadership.
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