The Embassy & Gäste | not ready/nicht bereit

In the organizer's words:

Europe is arming itself: Compulsory military service, higher defense spending and military mobility. Civil societies are paying the price through cuts in education, social services and culture. In the face of war and geopolitical uncertainty, the transnational network of critical cultural practitioners The Embassy asks: What do those who don't want to be war-minded do? What can we learn from current protests and how can we show solidarity with those who have no choice?

Introduce compulsory military service, increase the defense budget, boost the arms industry, promote military mobility. Societies in Europe want to become capable of war again. Civil societies are paying the price for this project, which the EU calls "Readiness 2030": Savings are being made in the areas of education, social affairs and culture, the younger generations are being asked to 'put their future on the line' and the media are making war jargon socially acceptable again. In view of the threat posed by the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, the uncertain alliance responsibilities between the USA and the countries of Europe, coupled with the increasing authoritarian tendencies in some European governments, there are readjustments in the public spending of European countries. Nobody is actually talking about climate protection any more. An ever escalating war economy and colonial power games are costing civil societies around the world their lives, land and culture. But what do all those who 'don't want to be ready' do? And what do those who cannot afford to ask these questions do? After its founding in the summer of 2025 , The Embassy, a transnational network of critical artists from Europe++, is coming together again at Impulse 2026 to learn from those who want to do things differently. From the schoolchildren who are taking to the streets against compulsory military service in Germany. From the students protesting against corruption, state arbitrariness and dysfunctionality in Serbia. Of the many who are singing here and there in protest choruses against fascist policies - persistently, in solidarity, loudly.

The two days of The Embassy are connected in terms of content, but can also be visited independently of each other. The festival audience is welcome at any time.

Program

Fri 05.06. not ready/ not ready

Open plenum for listening, thinking, discussing, exchanging and connecting.

11:00-13:00 REPORTS 1 - "TURMOIL"
Opening impulses by Déborah Brosteaux (Brussels), Schulstreik NRW as well as Boyka Boneva and Nikos Papakostas (Athens)

15:00-17:00 REPORTS 2 - "AFFIRMATION"
Opening impulses by Marijana Cvetković (Belgrade) and Judith Balso (Paris)

18:00-20:30 tba

Sat 06.06. Assembly

10:00-11:00 chor*eograph*ic warm-up

11:00-13:00 ASSEMBLY
Public assembly to discuss the questions that have arisen and other topics. Gathered around a large work table, we talk about the pressing issues across countries, languages and generations and get "not ready" together.

Afterwards in the afternoon: joint visit to the festival program and unformed time

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Europe is rearming: conscription, increased defense spending and military mobility. Civil society is paying the price through cuts to education, social services and culture. In the face of war and geopolitical uncertainty, the transnational network of critical cultural practitioners, The Embassy, asks: What are those who do not wish to be fit for war doing? What can we learn from current protests? And how can we show solidarity with those who have no choice?

Introduce conscription, increase the defense budget, boost the arms industry, promote military mobility. Societies in Europe want to become combat-ready again. The price for this scheme, which the EU calls "Readiness 2030", is being paid for by civil societies: cuts are being made to education, social services and culture, younger generations are being asked to "put their future at the service" of the state, and the media is once more making war jargon socially acceptable. In view of the threat posed by Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine, the uncertain responsibilities of the alliance between the US and European countries, coupled with increasing authoritarian tendencies in some European governments has led to readjustments in the government spending of European countries. No one is actually talking about climate protection anymore. Ever-escalating war economies and colonial power games are costing global civil societies lives, land and culture. But what are all those who do not want to be "ready" doing? And what are those who cannot even allow themselves to ask these questions doing? After its inception in the summer of 2025, The Embassy, a transnational network of critical artists from Europe++, will reconvene at Impulse 2026 to learn from those who do want to do things differently: be it schoolchildren on the streets protesting against conscription in Germany; students protesting against corruption, state arbitrariness and dysfunctionality in Serbia; or the many people here and there who sing against fascist politics in protest choirs-persistently, in unity, at volume.

The two days of The Embassy are thematically linked, but can also be attended separately.
Festival-goers are welcome at any time.

Programs

Fri 05/06 not ready/not ready

Open plenary session for listening, reflecting, discussing, exchanging ideas and connecting.

11:00-13:00 REPORTS 1 - "TURMOIL"
Opening remarks by Déborah Brosteaux (Brussels), the North Rhine-Westphalia school strike, and Boyka Boneva and Nikos Papakostas (Athens)

15:00-17:00 REPORTS 2 - "AFFIRMATION"
Opening remarks by Marijana Cvetković (Belgrade) and Judith Balso (Paris

18:00-20:30 tba

Sat 06/06 Assembly

10:00-11:00 Chor*eographic warm-up

11:00-13:00 ASSEMBLY
Public general assembly for the collective negotiation of the questions that have arisen and other matters. Gathered around a large work table, we speak across countries, languages and generations about the pressing issues - and together, we make ourselves "not ready."


In the afternoon: collective visit to the festival program and unstructured time.