MoA is a grassroots Philly project founded by award-winning artist Meg Saligman
Community Origins
As real estate vacancies soared post-pandemic, Meg saw unlikely potential in an abandoned bank in her Old City neighborhood.
Meg founded the Ministry of Awe nonprofit to transform the forgotten bank into an artistic hub. A visionary of community-driven art, Meg has produced celebrated public artworks worldwide, weaving participatory exchange with exquisite art at unprecedented scale. Her oeuvre includes the largest and most iconic murals across Philly and the U.S.
Impact Strategy
Build welcoming, playful interaction for all ages
● Present world class art through full immersion, more accessible than the museum or gallery
● Encourage guests to engage with each other through art
● Cultivate non-screen based entertainment and creation in an inviting, vibrant space*
*Post pandemic, there has been a rise in habitual isolation. Urban centers are more vacant, and the average American spends 7.4 hours (9 for millennials) per day in front of a screen.
Promote equity and inclusion
● Ensure visitor access to the arts through sliding scale ticket pricing
● Partner with local schools and community organizations
● Design accessible experiences for the differently abled; art of every medium means there’s something for everyone
Grow the creative economy
● Create artistic and whimsical counterpoint to Old City’s existing historical attractions
● Enhance tourism while boosting creative economy for local community
● Develop a royalty system for collaborating artists