Like the beginning of any great heist film, internationally renowned artist and Philadelphia mural legend Meg Saligman is “putting together a team.”

Known collectively as Ministry of Awe (MoA), the Saligman-led art collective is preparing to transform the historic Manufacturer’s National Bank at 27 N 3^rd Street in Philadelphia’s Old City neighborhood into a groundbreaking, multi-disciplinary art installation.

This immersive project will take over six stories and 8,000 square feet of the 19th-century bank, offering visitors an interactive space filled with visuals, live performances, and soundscapes.

Guests will be invited to explore more than 20 rooms where they can engage with, and even alter, the art in real-time.

Saligman, celebrated for her iconic Philadelphia murals like Common Threads on N Broad Street and Spring Garden, envisions this as her largest and most ambitious work to date. “We’re creating a living, walkable piece of art that’s deeply rooted in Philly’s rich history,” said Saligman.

The installation will aim to surprise and delight with live performances, interactive elements, and participatory experiences. Visitors might encounter aerialists, “bank tellers” who double as fortune tellers, or even fleeting “bank robbers” in this immersive space where art and storytelling merge.

The project, set to open in late 2025, will operate as a ticketed experience, encouraging visitors to explore at their own pace.

Beyond its role as an art installation, it will also serve as a hub for community collaboration. MoA plans to extend its impact through projects in local schools and public spaces, sharing its inclusive and participatory art model with a broader audience.

MoA’s approach to experiential art first captured attention during the 2023 Fringe Festival with the Make Bank project, which The New York Times described as “The money is fake, the abundance is real.”

Saligman hopes this new endeavor will continue to redefine how people interact with art, inviting the community into an ongoing exchange of ideas and creativity.

As the countdown to 2025 begins, Meg Saligman and the Ministry of Awe are poised to create a space that invites both art lovers and adventurers to step into a world where imagination knows no bounds—and where every visitor has the power to reshape the story.

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