PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Step inside a living work of art and marvel at the Ministry of Awe.
“It is one work of art that you walk through and experience,” says Meg Saligman, Creator of the Ministry of Awe. “The only thing required is curiosity.”
The Manufacturers National Bank building now houses a creative mashup of disciplines from more than 100 artists.
Saligman says you will see performance, along with beautiful murals and sculptures.
And there’s a story to explore.
“There are materials all over that you can read to get into the lore of the bank,” says Lizzie Kripke, Co-Creator of the Ministry of Awe. “We have something for everyone.”
And you can bank on being wowed.
“This experience is one that is determined by our audience, ‘the account holders,'” says Kripke.
She says there are six stories to wander through in the building that is “a bit like a labyrinth.”
It’s the brainchild of Saligman, an artist, and brought to life with the help of Kripke who says she has worn “many hats on this project.” She’s served as creative director and design architect.
“And we love the thought of gathering in a bank and us protecting each other and the humanity that we share. Our bank values humanity,” says Saligman.
The visual displays engage all your senses.
“We have a giant nose that smells you and gives feedback on what it discovers,” says Kripke.
Saligman says you enter at the ATM and leave through “The Heavens.”
“This is where co-creation happens, where you as an account holder who is visiting the bank, can come in and create with us, an experience,” she says.
Other features include the jewel box, a room otherwise known as “Estate Holdings,” along with the showcase vault in the middle of the first-floor grand lobby.
“We call the vault ‘a dangerous safe,'” says Kripke.
The Ministry of Awe operates as a nonprofit, giving back to the artists who built it.
Saligman says the old bank is now “a reimagining of what we value and how we exchange with each other.”
“Art is not just an object to have, it’s an experience to share,” says Kripke. “I hope the Ministry of Awe provides a chance for people to break away from our isolated phone screens and get out and do something weird together.”
Advance tickets for the Ministry of Awe are recommended.
For more information:
Ministry of Awe (MoA)
Link to MoA Tickets
Ministry of Awe
27 N. 3rd Street
Philadelphia, Pa. 19106
Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.