The East-West-AG
Radically intuitive and totally regional // Radically Intuitive and Totally Regional

July 03-05, 2025
Düsseldorf, public space // Düsseldorf, public space

The Ost-West-AG is an NGO. The AG is interested in connections and disconnections between East and West and is actively involved. In Düsseldorf - the West German twin city of this year's European Capital of Culture Chemnitz - it brings together artists from the Ruhr region, Rhineland, Saxony, Thuringia and Berlin: They argue and cook, disagree, sing and ask questions, connect with artistic activism from East and West Germany, provide first-hand information about the Radical Decree, celebrate punk and perform protest songs. Their program is intended to be one for a better society, and they invite you to be part of it - in the middle of the city. The Ost-West-AG is stable.

The Ost-West-AG is an NGO. It is interested in connections and the lack of them between East and West, and takes an active involvement. In Düsseldorf - the West German partner city of this year's European Capital of Culture Chemnitz - they bring artists together from the Ruhr region, the Rhineland, Saxony, Thuringia and Berlin: they argue and cook, disagree, sing and ask why, ally themselves with artistic activism from East and West Germany, gain first-hand knowledge of the Radicals Decree, celebrate punk and play protest songs. Their program is intended to be one for a better society and they invite you to take part - in the middle of the city. The East-West-AG is stable.

Thursday, 03.07.2025, 15:00-18:00
Location: Grabbeplatz / Kay-und-Lore-Lorentz-Platz (in front of the Kunsthalle)

The East-West-AG welcomes its guests from Thuringia and Saxony
After three days of Road+Rail trips, they finally arrive: Anna Barth with an escort in her MOTHEK, Maren Barnikow and Johanna Franke with their newly created Megafonie in their luggage. Three artists from the "East" who, on their way to the "West", have critically surveyed the spaces, argued with the people about (dis)agreement and are now re-cultivating the Düsseldorf soil with their unruly and polyphonic findings from the various regions. // The East-West-AG welcomes its guests from Thuringia and Saxony
After three days of Road+Rail trips, they finally arrive: Anna Barth with an escort in her MOTHEK, Maren Barnikow and Johanna Franke with their newly created Megafonie in their luggage. Three artists from the 'East', who have critically surveyed the spaces on their way to the 'West', have argued with the people about (dis)agreement and are now tilling the Düsseldorf soil anew with their unruly and polyphonic insights from the various regions.

15:00-15:30 TUNE IN with all guests // TUNE IN with all guests
15:30-16:30 BLOOMING NEEDS. Anna Barth and Bettina Grahs give insights into a package tour // BLOOMING NEEDS. Anna Barth and Bettina Grahs give insights into a package holiday
16:30-17:30 HOW DO WE COME TOGETHER HERE?! Public choir rehearsal with megaphonic sound amplification and invitation to participate // HOW DO WE COME TOGETHER HERE?! Public choir rehearsal with megaphonic sound amplification and invitation to participate
17:30-18:00 AUSKLANG and cucumber soup // AUSKLANG and cucumber soup

Friday, 4.7.2025, 15:00-18:00
Location: Perlenladen by Ela Eis, Kurfürstenstraße 41

Do it yourself: Films. Talk. Music.
The Ost-West-AG has invited itself to Ela Eis's pearl store, so to speak. Do-it-yourself is also the motto for the afternoon. We start with the Super 8 films "Miracle Whip [Befreit]" (FRG 1979, Ela Eis) - accompanied live by Raissa Mehner on electric guitar and "... didn't I amuse you brilliantly?" (D 1989, Gabriele Stötzer).
While everyone strings a string of pearls together - from the store to the MOTHEK on the street - we talk to the filmmakers about underground and punk. Stefanie Görtz from the Future Now festival plays protest songs with the Ost-West-AG and their guests. We find out what they have to do with us.

Many thanks to IMAI and the IFFF Dortmund+Cologne for their support.

Do it yourself: Films. Speeches.Music.
The East-West-AG has invited itself to Ela Eis' bead store, so to speak. Do-it-yourself is also the motto for the afternoon. We start with the Super 8 films 'Miracle Whip [Liberated]' (FRG 1979, Ela Eis) - accompanied live by Raissa Mehner on electric guitar and '... didn't I amuse you brilliantly?' (D 1989, Gabriele Stötzer).

While everyone strings together a string of pearls - from the store to the MOTHEK on the street - we talk to the filmmakers about underground and punk. Stefanie Görtz from the Future Now festival plays protest songs with the Ost-West-AG and their guests. We find out what they have to do with us.

Many thanks to IMAI and the IFFF Dortmund+Cologne for their support.

Saturday, 5.7.2025, 14:00-18:00
Location: Oberbilker Markt

After Die Ost-West-AG and its guests - including anna stiede for the first time - vehemently campaigned for "The Good Life" at the Embassy, it's time for a binding departure to that very place. On the way from the FFT to the Oberbliker Markt, the Düsseldorfer Meckerchor is formed and collects everything that can be found in the city in terms of needs, finally packing it into a musical form that - sung loudly by ALL - makes it across the borders and whets the appetite for an uncertain future. // Now that Die Ost-West-AG and its guests - including anna stiede - have vehemently championed 'The Good Life' at the Embassy, it's time to set off in a binding direction. On the way from the FFT to Oberbliker Markt, the Düsseldorfer Meckerchor is formed and collects everything that can be found in the city in terms of needs, finally packing it into a musical form that - sung loudly by EVERYONE - makes it across the borders and whets the appetite for an uncertain future.

14:00-15:00 City tour with Jan Lemitz (Meeting point: FFT Düsseldorf)
Inner-city transformations in the station area and interdependencies with the Rhine-Ruhr conurbation. Where are we? Jan Lemitz walks with Ost-West from FFT Düsseldorf to Oberbilker Markt and explains the urban space and its history. //
City tour with Jan Lemitz (Meeting point: FFT Düsseldorf)
Inner-city transformations in the area around the railway station and links with the Rhine-Ruhr conurbation. Where are we? Jan Lemitz walks with Ost-West from FFT Düsseldorf to Oberbilker Markt and explains the urban space and its history.

15:00-18:00 THAT WILL HAVE BEEN.
Public writing and distribution of the Düsseldorf ABGESANG and AUFBRUCH // THAT WILL HAVE BEEN. Public writing and distribution of the Düsseldorf ABGESANGS and AUFBRUCH

IMPULSE FESTIVAL FOR PERFORMANCE, THEATER & DANCE

On three long festival weekends - one each in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Cologne and Düsseldorf - outstanding productions of the independent scene from Germany, Austria and Switzerland will be presented. This showcase will be supplemented by positions on the relationship between East and West Germany as part of a "Post-West" focus as well as views from and on the host region of NRW.

We are looking forward to our first joint festival season!

During three long festival weekends - one each in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Cologne and Düsseldorf - outstanding productions from the independent theater scene from Germany, Austria and Switzerland will be presented. This showcase will be complemented by positions on the relationship between East and West Germany as part of a 'Post-West' focus as well as views from and on the host region of NRW.

We look forward to our first festival season with you!