JOY
BIRKENHEAD, MERSEYSIDE
What is Joy?
Joy is a place that will bring together health, arts and culture to the people of Wirral, in a vibrant shared space where everyone is welcome.
Joy will transform the Treasury Annexe building in Birkenhead into a thriving hub for arts, culture, health and wellbeing, empowering Wirral residents to shape change, raise aspirations and improving life and health outcomes.
Joy will place mental health and clinical support services into a completely different environment; Joy won’t look, feel or act like a traditional health centre. Instead, it will be a dynamic, creative community space that is inclusive, playful and lively.
People will have many different reasons for going to Joy, but everyone will experience the same health & wellbeing benefits; connectedness, community, togetherness, pride and hopefully, a little bit of Joy.
“A place where Joy lives and Joy is achieved”
As the Visual Design Consultant for the Joy project, Molly Hawkins is responsible for shaping the visual aesthetics of this transformative initiative, aimed at converting the Treasury Annexe building in Birkenhead into a thriving hub for arts, culture, health, and wellbeing. Her role encompasses interior design, the creation of public art pieces, and curating the visual language of the project. With a focus on creating a welcoming and vibrant space to serve people of all ages and backgrounds, Molly is excited to bring her passion for design and creativity to this role, contributing positively to the Birkenhead community.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
In September 2023, Molly Hawkins hosted a series of free drop-in workshops in the basement of the future JOY building. These sessions focused on Interior Design Styling & Layout and Mural Collage Design, aiming to inspire themes and motifs for the upcoming artworks curated throughout the JOY space.
A CELEBRATION OF COLOUR: ‘Colour Bombing JOY’
In August 2024, the event 'Colour Bombing JOY' unfolded as a day filled with delight and creative mess!
This vibrant event was in collaboration with the young members of OOMOO, an innovative approach to emotional well-being support for young people in the care system in Wirral. OOMOO empowers these young individuals by placing them in control of the services designed for them and encouraging them to shape changes in their own lives.
The day offered a unique opportunity to create art and have fun in an uninhabited building. It was a dream come true for many to let loose and creatively transform a derelict building. We painted the walls and floors, making the most of the space before it undergoes renovations and is prepared for refurbishment. This event provided a perfect blend of fun and freedom, setting the stage for the transformations to come.
The transformation of JOY has officially begun! We're thrilled to watch this space evolve, led by our youth groups who kicked things off with a colourful celebration before renovations commence.
DEVELOPING DESIGNS
Establishing the visual identity of JOY will be a playful and innovative process that encourages dreaming big. With Molly's extensive background in set and costume design, she is keen to apply her unique approach to narrative and story-building through visual design. Drawing on her decade of experience as a public artist, Molly is enthusiastic about contributing her insights to create something truly joyful and design-focused for the development of the Joy building.
