The Drop Out: Tell Them I Said No was E-WERK Luckenwalde’s ambitious, CO2-neutral symposium and performance programme in Luckenwalde, Germany. The initiative aimed to address the profound global and societal challenges posed by climate change, increased competition and growing pressure to perform. By focusing on the themes of vulnerability, well-being and fair cooperation, the programme sought to encourage reflection on personal resource consumption and the wider environmental and economic issues facing our world. Over the course of two years, scientific and artistic perspectives converged to develop innovative solutions and redefine the concept of a sustainable institution.
Beginning with a kick-off symposium in July 2023, the two-day event in early May 2024 focused on artist care. Inspired by Martin Herbert’s collection of essays Tell Them I Said No, the programme explored the implications of resistance, radical self-sufficiency, counterculture and artistic vulnerability. This expansive event took place across E-WERK’s 25,000 square metre site, including historic venues such as the Turbine Hall, the Bauhaus Stadtbad and E-WERK’s outdoor geodesic dome.
The event marked the start of the expansion of the E-WERK campus, which was powered entirely by CO2-neutral art electricity generated on-site. Following the two-day programme, the E-WERK campus continued to develop as a carbon-neutral venue for experimental live art. The entire event was filmed and later presented on the E-WERK website, ensuring a lasting impact and wider reach for innovative ideas and discussions.
