Radikal intuitiv und total regional

Die 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 programme is intended to be one for a better society and they invite you to take part – in the middle of the city. Die Ost-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 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
15:30-16:30 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
17:30-18:00 AUSKLANG

Friday, 4.7.2025, 15:00–18:00
Location: Perlenladen von Ela Eis, Kurfürstenstrasse 41

Do it yourself: Films. Speeches. Music.
The East-West-AG has invited itself to Ela Eis' bead shop, 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 shop 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 the Inter Media Art Institute and the Internationals Frauen Film Fest Dortmund+Cologne for their support.

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

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 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 ABGESANGS and AUFBRUCH