Cultural Center. Cultural center What are the types of national cultural centers?

UDC 800.732 © O.B. Istomina

NATIONAL CULTURAL CENTERS IN A MULTI-ETHNIC ENVIRONMENT

The article is devoted to the study of the activities of national cultural centers and the degree of their effectiveness in the Irkutsk region. The activities of national organizations are connected with many aspects of the life of an ethnic group in a multinational environment and are aimed at strengthening the unified cultural space of the region.

Key words: national cultural center, type of national associations, population mosaic index.

NATIONAL-CULTURAL CENTERS IN THE MULTIETHNIC ENVIRONMENT

Article is devoted to studying of activity■ of the national and cultural centers and degree of their efficiency in the Irkutsk region. Activity of the national organizations is connected with many aspects of activity of ethnos in the multinational environment and directed on strengthening of uniform cultural space of the region.

Key words: the national-cultural center, type of national associations, an index of mosaic the population.

The concept of national policy in modern Russia is focused on building and strengthening tendencies for the equal functioning of cultures of peoples within a multinational state. However, the real situation is characterized by complex processes and manifestations of intolerant behavior, xenophobia, ethno-fanaticism, or, conversely, ethnic indifference.

Destructive forms of intercultural communications in a state with historically established multinationality and a high level of mosaic of national composition are caused by increased socio-economic tension and pose a serious threat to statehood. Violation of the mutual respectful attitude towards each other of people of different nationalities in modern conditions manifests itself in the form of crimes committed on the basis of national hostility, in the form of public events that convey the interests of a monoethnic group. Manifestations of nationalism, chauvinism, and religious intolerance indicate radical activity and the destruction of the principle of “unity in diversity.”

The most effective ways of improving society under these conditions are seen to be ensuring social stability, establishing and disseminating the principles

You can be calm if you have someone to pass on your cultural heritage to

X. Murakami

tolerance, creating conditions for equal social and national-cultural development of all peoples of Russia. These methods require the activity of the national intelligentsia, focused on the preservation and development of ethnocultures, and are associated with the activities of national cultural organizations.

conditioned by its historical,

economic, political, household, sociocultural specifics. Activities of national and cultural

organizations in a multi-ethnic region implements the provisions of the concept

state national policy, protects the interests of peoples, strengthens the common cultural space of the region.

According to the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Justice for the Irkutsk Region and the Ust-Ordynsky Buryat Autonomous Okrug (UBAO), as of January 1, 2012, 89 national associations were registered in the region, 24 of which operate in Irkutsk. This list includes national-cultural autonomies, several cultural centers, and national communities. The reasons that motivate the creation of national associations are different and are a condition for choosing the type

organizations. NCCs can be created to support fellow countrymen coming to the region. Such functions are performed by the public Kyrgyz national-cultural

organization "Friendship", Irkutsk regional public organization "Union

Tajiks" and other centers focused on supporting cultures, most often the peoples of the Caucasus.

Also represented in the region are NCCs, in whose activities the state, the historical homeland of migrants, is interested. Such organizations include the Lithuanian National Cultural Center "Švyturys" ("Lighthouse"), the Irkutsk regional public organization "Polish Cultural Autonomy "Ognivo", and associations of other European nations.

The third type of institutions represents the interests of indigenous and small peoples of the region and the state as a whole. According to statistics, in any region that includes national autonomies, organizations of this type are numerically predominant. The goals of such institutions are aimed, first of all, at supporting national republics such as Buryatia, Yakutia, Tatarstan, Chuvashia, etc. This type of national associations can be created for the purpose of cultural unification of people of one nation, carry out integrative tasks, and can also see as their goal the development of national language, customs, crafts and cultural activities.

The most ambitious goal of most cultural centers, regardless of type, is

popularization of traditional cultures of the peoples of Russia. This problem is solved through the organization and holding of national holidays and events that introduce the population to the customs and rituals of various ethnic groups. Information about such events, their form and content is covered by ethnic media, publications of the Guild of Interethnic Journalism. These holidays involve not only members of the organization, but also representatives of other nationalities, everyone who is interested in the customs of the peoples of the region.

Among the national cultural centers operating in the Irkutsk region, the majority are represented by associations of the following peoples: Buryats - 25 NCCs, which is 28.1% of the total number of all 89 national organizations in the region; Ukrainians - 2 NCCs or 2.2%; Tatars - 7 NCCs or 7.9%; Belarusians - 11 NCCs or 12.4%; peoples of the Caucasus - 11 NCCs or 12.4%; Evenks -4 NCC or 4.5%; small peoples of the North -] 1 NCC or 12.4% of the number of national cultural institutions operating in the region.

In the ratio of the number of national-cultural regional organizations, a large share is occupied by centers for the preservation of the culture of the Buryat people. There is a natural correlation in the region:

the number of nationalities - the number of centers and organizations with a national-cultural bias. The higher the first criterion, the larger and wider the second one, respectively (see table.

Table 1

The ratio of the numerical representation of nationalities and the number of NCCs in the Irkutsk region

Number Number % of number

Name of the nationality that created the NCC in the region, NCC in the NCC in

people region region

Buryats 80565 25 28.1

Belarusians 14185 11 12.4

Small peoples of the North (Mari, Tofalars, 2995 11 12.4

Evens, Komi)

Tatars 31068 7 7.9

Evenks 1431 4 4.5

Poles 2298 3 3.4

Ukrainians 53631 2 2.5

Peoples of the Caucasus (Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Tajiks, Uzbeks) 17454 11 12.4

Lithuanians 1669 2 2.5

Chechens, Ingush 1044 1 1.1

Chuvash 7295 1 1.1

Teams of national centers solve complex problems in matters of educating the population, developing the cultures of their peoples, and carry out courses on studying national languages. Sunday schools and native language courses have been organized in Irkutsk. Most cultural institutions carry out this work systematically and in an organized manner. The difficulty of language teaching lies in the narrowing of the scope of application of the formed language competencies. The situation with the publication of fiction, newspapers, and magazines in national languages ​​remains difficult. A few periodicals are educational and integratively oriented. The narrowly pragmatic focus on linguistic ecology significantly narrows the readership of these publications. Among young people, the information need is realized through Internet resources and publications of the central press, however, the importance of publications in national languages ​​is difficult to diminish. Periodicals in the national language are evidence of the preservation of culture and confirmation of the vitality of the language. Many organizations have their own official websites, which contain information about the main activities of the center and a calendar of events. The site allows registration for native language courses and hosts a forum, which means that consolidation along national lines is not the only criterion for establishing a social circle. In modern conditions, all means are important for preserving traditional cultures, including high-tech information systems.

There are quite a lot of directions in the activities of the NCC with a systematic approach, among them such important aspects as: publishing activities, consulting for the purpose of education among youth, preserving folk crafts, strengthening ties with the peoples of the region, forming and strengthening the principles of tolerance, holding national holidays, acquaintance the population of the region with the culture of the ethnic group, and, of course, the preservation of the language as evidence of the culture of its people.

The activities of cultural centers that protect the interests of the peoples of the region are connected with many aspects of the life of an ethnic group in a multinational environment, but the effectiveness of these structures is often reduced as a result of the desire to

integrate participants according to the criterion of nationality. As a result, as a rule, only representatives of this ethnic group know about the culture of a particular ethnic group, about cultural events, and about the traditions of sociocultural activities. Since the tasks of centers focused on the preservation and development of national cultures of small peoples include the popularization of traditions, familiarization with the specific features of their culture, and the establishment of principles

tolerance in a multiethnic environment, the scope of sociocultural influence should be expanded.

In order to study the situation around the national and cultural institutions of the Irkutsk region, a sociological study was conducted in February 2012. The survey was conducted in the form of a questionnaire, the sample size was 630 people. The respondents were urban and rural residents of the region of equal number of groups. The objective of the study is to identify the population’s attitude towards national centers. The questionnaire contains 15 questions in five blocks. The first block is information about the respondent, the second block is about the traditions of the cultures of the peoples inhabiting the region, these are questions about whether the population knows about the activities of the NCC, what is the source of this awareness and whether respondents consider their activities effective. The third block of questions is focused on identifying the priority tasks of the NCC in the understanding of the residents of the multinational region, as well as searching for potential sources of increasing the historical

cultural cognitive base in the consciousness of a multicultural society. The fourth is questions to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between the presence of a knowledge base of culture, the history of one’s people and interest in the national cultures of neighboring peoples. And the fifth block of questions is devoted to identifying the degree of need for the work of the NCC and, as a consequence, the preservation of traditional minority cultures as evidence of the spiritual identity of the region.

The focus group consisted of urban and rural residents of the youth age group (from 17-25 years old). The survey participants included applicants and students of the Angarsk State Technical Academy, the National Irkutsk State Research Technical University and graduating students from schools in the Osinsky, Nukutsky and Alarsky districts of the UOBAO. Numerical ratio of respondents

distributed as follows: in the cities of Irkutsk and Angarsk - 225 people, in the districts of UOBAO 405 respondents were interviewed, of which: in the Osinsky district - 110, in Nukutsky - 140, in Alarsky - 155 people.

Urban and rural populations, in our opinion, have different amounts of information about national signs, traditions and specific features of the cultures of small peoples of the region. For this reason, respondents are representatives of both types of settlements. The type and status of a socio-territorial community and the level of population density determine the degree of possibility of interethnic contacts. In terms of the level of mosaic of national composition, rural objects differ from the urban level by a slight advantage. The indices of population mosaic, and, consequently, the level of intensity of interethnic contacts, as mentioned above, are approximately equal throughout the region. But the presence of closer social relations due to the greater compactness of the settlement provides the opportunity for a deeper acquaintance with the cultures of neighboring peoples. In the countryside

The level of interest

In the locality, people know everything about each other, how a neighbor lives, what events are happening in his life today, what rules of everyday life and social interaction are decisive, what signs are considered traditional and are especially revered, what festive events take place and how they are celebrated. The activities of the NCC in rural areas are more obvious to residents, therefore the work of such organizations in rural areas is perceived in the minds of the population as more effective.

Questions about the need to preserve traditional cultures in both urban and rural settlements are perceived equally highly: 82.2% of city residents and 100% of rural residents are convinced of the obligation to preserve all examples of ethnocultures of the Cis-Baikal region. The majority of respondents associate the immutability of national-cultural

“relief” with the activities of the NCC, national autonomies, diasporas and other organizations. According to the survey data (see Table 2), 71.1% of urban respondents and 93.3% of rural youth understand the need for the work of national institutions.

table 2

elenny in the activities of NCC, %

Question City Rural

“yes” “no” “don’t know” “yes” “no” “don’t know”

Do you consider it necessary to preserve the traditional cultures of the peoples of your region 82.2 4.4 13.3 99.6 0 0.4

Do you consider the work of national cultural centers necessary 71.1 6.7 22.2 93.3 0.9 5.8

Would you like to take part in the national holiday of any people in the region 57.8 22.2 20 88 1.8 10.2

Are you interested in the culture of other peoples 66.7 24.4 8.9 90.2 0.9 8.9

Are you interested in the history of your people 77.8 8.9 13.3 99.6 0.4 0

Can you say that you know the history of your people 37.8 35.5 26.7 67.1 12.9 20

People of different nationalities and religions have long lived in Eastern Siberia, so public organizations of citizens united by interests based on nationality remain in demand. The activities of the NCC do not lose relevance in modern conditions. The goals and objectives of national-cultural autonomies are related to the revival of national identity, they

focused on preserving the identity, traditions and historical and cultural heritage of their people, promoting the development

national language, crafts, applied arts. In general, NCCs are designed to satisfy the cultural, educational, socially significant, moral needs of a multicultural region.

Most of the respondents, regardless of the type of settlement, show interest in the culture of their own and other peoples living in close territorial proximity: 77.8% of urban youth show interest in the history of their own and 66.7% in the history of other peoples, the answers of villagers are distributed - 99.6% and 90.2% respectively. It seems that

the results confirm the presence of a correlative dependence in the cognitive base of the individual: an individual’s interest in culture cannot be limited by the framework of his own ethnicity. In other words, interest in one’s culture implies an increase in knowledge through a comparative approach, which requires recognition of the cultural characteristics of other peoples. Understanding the difference in the general and, to a greater extent, specific features of foreign and national-cultural formations, one can understand the foundations of one’s own culture.

It is important to say that the manifestation of interest in the history and culture of their people in both types of socio-territorial communities is higher than the indicators of subjective assessment of existing, already formed knowledge in this area: twice as much among urban youth and one and a half times among rural youth. In rural areas, getting to know the traditional way of life is not just an educational task, it is a daily experience of mastering the norms of social interaction. For this reason, the desire to attend national cultural events of any ethnic groups in the region is also more expressed among rural respondents: 88% compared to 57.8% among urban residents. Based on sociological research data, the compactness of residence and the low population of rural areas determine the degree of interest in preserving traditions and historical and cultural heritage, in

revitalization of the national language as a sign of the identity of a particular people.

Also, by analogy, the research questionnaire included the question: “Do you think the level of knowledge about the culture, customs, and traditions of the peoples living in your region...?” The following answers were received: “high” - 2.2% of city residents and 9.3% of rural residents; “satisfactory” - 31.1% and 44%; “unsatisfactory” - 66.7% and 46.7% of respondents, respectively. Thus, a total of only 33.3% of respondents from urban settlements and 53.3% from rural ones can recognize and evaluate their awareness and competence in this issue. All sociocultural

The characteristics of a rural territorial community in this regard also naturally turned out to be more effective.

It should be noted that the assessment of competence in the field of ethnography and local history given by respondents during the survey is still subjective in nature,

because given on the basis of self-determination. It is quite difficult to check how well this assessment meets the requirements of objectivity in the context of the survey method, but an attempt was made to verify the data obtained. The questionnaire includes the question: “What national holidays of the peoples living in your region (except Russian) do you know?” The answers correspond to the option obtained on the basis of self-assessment and are due to the low degree of mosaic

Pre-Baikal region (many nationalities live, but their share in the total number is too small to increase the level of mosaic of the national composition and, at the same time, the degree of intensity of interethnic contacts). The consequence of these features of the region is awareness of the national and cultural traditions of the two peoples, who numerically dominate after the majority group of Russians. These are the Buryat and Tatar peoples originally living in Siberia, who are represented in the region by 3.1% and 1.2%, respectively (according to the 2010 census). Recognizable holidays in the urban environment: Buryat Sagaalgan - 35.5% and Surkharban

24.4%, Tatar-Bashkir Ramadan - 13.3%; in rural areas: Sagaalgan - 95.6% and Surkharban

86.7%, Ramadan - 46.6%.

The source of obtaining information about the fundamental characteristics of the traditional cultures of the ethnic groups of their region are various forms and methods of broadcasting, such as television, the media, the activities of the NCC, etc. (see Table 3).

The family is of great importance in matters of national and cultural education. In the primary sphere of socialization, not only traditions and the order of their implementation are recognized, but also the semantic, substantive side

ritual actions performed. The family has the opportunity not only to become familiar with the rules, but also to take part and implement them independently.

Activities of national and cultural

organizations in the Irkutsk region are very diverse, but their effectiveness in the urban environment is not high, only 2.2% of respondents received knowledge about ethnocultural characteristics from NCC events in their city, and 26.7% were able to take part in such events. Peculiarity

functioning of the NCC in the city is a focus on representatives of one’s ethnic group,

which, of course, reduces the effectiveness of the transmission of traditional cultural forms, prevents the spread of a positive image of culture in a multi-ethnic environment, and prevents its implementation in life strategies

principles of tolerance. Expanding the circle of sociocultural influence could solve many problems associated with growing social tension in the region.

Table 3

Methods and sources of informing the population about the traditions of national cultures, %

From what sources did you learn about national holidays?

On television 64.4 32.9

At school, technical school, university 20 95.6

From fiction and journalistic literature 17.8 48.4

From newspapers and magazines 46.7 24.9

From events of national cultural centers 2.2 93.8

From my own observations 22.2 49.8

In the family (took part in the holiday) 26.7 83.1

From Internet resources, official websites of national institutions 8.9 5.7

The main types of areas of work include not only cultural and educational, but also socially oriented, educational, research, publishing,

human rights, etc. In the opinion of the respondents, the most important function of the NCC is the preservation of traditions and customs

Popular performances!

peoples of the region - this is the opinion of 48.9% of urban and 94.2% of rural respondents. The preservation of traditions and their retransmission to a new generation are understood equally highly in the minds of the respondents, regardless of their place of residence. Other goals and objectives of national cultural organizations noted by the population during the survey are indicated in Table 4:

Table 4

region about the tasks of the NCC, %

What, in your opinion, is the main task of national-cultural centers urban-rural

Introducing residents to the national cultures of the region 44.4 44.9

Teaching children the traditions of their people 33.3 78.2

Preservation of national culture 42.2 83.1

Preservation of traditions and customs of the peoples of the region 48.9 94.2

Preservation of the native language as the basis of national culture 20 52

Preservation of the people 4.4 66.2

Popularization of national cultures and their customs 15.6 22.7

Other 2.2 3.1

Your answer options, classified in the “other” column, are associated with the formation of a synthetic function that would combine everything listed in the table. Respondents recognized the need for an integrated, comprehensive approach, which seems to be the most effective in a multicultural environment. In addition to sources of obtaining information on the issue under discussion, respondents were asked to find the most productive method, a way to increase their own level of national-cultural competencies. The majority of urban respondents, namely 48.9%, consider attendance at speeches and public events of the NCC to be effective, another 24.4% wanted to take part in such actions.

Unfortunately, the results indicate a low degree of readiness of the youth group to independently search for information. Urban and rural respondents prefer to feel support from national and cultural institutions, local governments,

public and religious organizations.

The activities of these structures are especially important for maintaining the status of national groups, for their development and, of course, for linguistic ecology, i.e. to preserve the native languages ​​of the peoples of the region. The languages ​​of small peoples in modern multicultural regions with a predominance of the majority Russian language need care from the NCC and require special support measures. There are certain conditions

functioning of the language in the community, which can be considered as factors contributing to the preservation of national languages: significant size of the language group; compact settlement; living in original habitats; Availability

literary tradition; the presence of public organizations operating in

national language; functioning of language in the family; the attitude of members of a language group to national languages ​​as a value.

Table 5

Potential sources of information about the national cultures of the region, %

How, in your opinion, could you increase the level of knowledge about the culture of your own and other peoples of the region urban village

Independently 24.4 29.7

Studying according to the program at school, technical school, university 31.1 39,

From the media and TV 40 27.1

Attending events of national cultural centers 48.9 84.4

Taking an active part in the holidays of national cultural centers 24.4 80.9

The listed factors in modern conditions have different degrees of mobility. The size of a language group, for example, is not a constant value, the compact settlement of indigenous people and their settlement in their original habitats is common mainly in rural areas, and the presence of a literary tradition, unfortunately, may not be in demand, especially among young people. It is obvious that national cultural centers, societies, and organizations are acquiring a socially significant role, whose representatives, through actions to preserve the languages ​​of the indigenous peoples of Cisbaikalia and other regions, instill in the younger generation a respectful attitude towards their native language, expanding the levels of its

functioning.

The functions of modern national-cultural centers are fully consistent with the provisions of the concept of state national policy and are designed to “reflect the diversity of interests of the peoples of the Russian Federation.” The tasks of the NCC are related to the preservation

ethnocultural relief of the region, with the development of the historically established form

polycultures. A particularly significant function of the NCC in conditions of growing social tension is the establishment of cooperation. Preserving the unique features of material and spiritual cultures helps to strengthen ties with the peoples of the region, the formation and development of the principles of tolerance.

Literature

1. [email protected]

2. National policy of Russia, history and modernity. - M, 1997. - P. 647 - 663.

Istomina Olga Borisovna, Candidate of Sociological Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Social Sciences, Angarsk State Technical Academy, Angarsk, e-mail: [email protected].

Istomina Olga Borisovna, candidate of sociological science, associate professor, department of social sciences, Angarsk State Technical Academy, Angarsk, email: [email protected].

UDC 316.34/35 © I.Ts. Dorzhieva

ETHNIC SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS OF BURYAT SCHOOLCHILDREN AND STUDENTS

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Key words: ethnicity, ethnic self-awareness, ethnic self-identification, traditions, customs.

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informal youth subculture

Cultural center (cf. English Cultural Center) is a widely used designation for organizations, as well as buildings or their complexes, designed to concentrate, enhance and promote the life of the surrounding society - certain values, traditions and practices that lie in sphere of culture and art. Cultural centers can exist both within the framework of public artistic associations and as private initiatives; as well as with state (government) patronage, or by activists.

At the same time, the modern use of the term “cultural center” can in practice indicate that such an object belongs to one of two semantic categories (or both at the same time):

A large multifunctional complex, cultural, entertainment and other public activities on the basis of which cover several types of art or cultural spheres at once (this distinguishes it from more highly specialized objects and institutions that serve only one of the traditional cultural functions, be it museums, exhibitions, libraries, concert and theater, educational, amateur, club, etc.);

A cultural institution that has a national, religious, social or other group orientation or affiliation (sometimes at embassies or other representative offices of countries, religious organizations, public associations), moreover, in most cases, setting itself the task of not only serving the internal interests of this group or diaspora (as opposed to a club), but also introducing this characteristic culture to the surrounding society, creating conditions for its preservation, understanding and further development in this society.

The boundaries of this term are thus quite conditional: in particular, on the one hand, it is close to the traditional institution of “houses (palaces) of culture and folk clubs” for socialist and some other countries; on the other hand, to such types of public centers as art centers, as national public associations; and partly to “general profile” exhibition, library or concert organizations. As a rule, a cultural center of any type is still characterized by the primacy of non-profit, educational and, to some extent, propaganda activities (in the field of culture), as well as its multilateral and complex nature.

The phrase “cultural center” in its arbitrary lexical sense, consisting of the spectrum of meanings of these two words separately (usually: “territory, concentrating or controlling..." - in relation to phenomena or objects of "culture"). For example: “Moscow is a large cultural and industrial center,” etc.

The “urban planning” use of the same phrase can also be considered as a “borderline case”. In the traditions of a number of countries (especially typical, for example, for Australia, and in some cases for the USA, etc.) - a “cultural center” can be called a special zone or area of ​​urban development, where, according to the plan of city planners (or historically), buildings and structures specifically for cultural purposes (theatres, museums, cinema and concert halls, libraries, sometimes stadiums or even parks, etc.). The combination “cultural center” can in such cases play a role or be an integral part of a stable name for such an area. When deciding in each individual case whether it can be attributed to the use of the term “cultural center” in the first meaning, one should probably focus on whether all institutions in this urban planning zone also form a certain administrative and organizational integrity, whether they coordinate their activities within the framework of its belonging to a single complex phenomenon in local culture.

In the summer of 2008, the Public Council for Cultural Centers was created in Moscow, which named the protection of the building of the Central House of Artists as its immediate task; The council included fifty people (architects, museum workers, journalists, artists, writers).

Let's look at some examples of cultural centers (in particular, informal ones):

A community center (English Social Center, Italian Centro Sociale, etc.), in some cases also referred to in English interpretations as a “Community Center” or “Community Center” (English Community Center) is an organized space for activities communities. Generally, this is a building or premises used for any of a wide range of public activity purposes that must be classified as charitable or non-profit.

First of all, this is a Western European socio-cultural phenomenon of the last third of the 20th century, which received additional development in Italy and a number of other countries, and by now it is also known in the countries of Eastern Europe.

An art center (art center, or art center) is different from an art gallery or art museum.

In the West, an arts center is a functional community center with a specific area of ​​competence, designed to encourage the practice of the arts and provide various services. The Arts Center provides space for exhibitions and/or artists, workshops, educational services, technical equipment, etc.

In Russia, art centers often promote private interests, while the role of a public center involves the interests of society as a guideline for activities. Thus, the Moscow Winzavod was created as a “private art center.” The creation of private art centers often fits into the strategy of gentrification of commercially unattractive urban spaces by attracting public attention to them. An example of such a strategy is the Strelka art center.

A self-governing community center (Italian: Centro Sociale Autogestito, English: Selfmanaged Social Center, etc.) is a type of “community” (English: Community Centre), or rather, “public center” (English: Social Center, Italian: Centro Sociale), which received particular development in the youth counter-culture of Italy in the 70s. XX century, and then further spread. Unlike “classical” public centers, established and managed by organizations, communities, parties, local bodies, etc. in the interests of various “users,” a self-governing public center does not at all provide for a division into “organizers” and “clients” acquires a much less formal character, at the same time with a specific ethics for making collective decisions - as a rule, with a preference for “consensus” (the agreement of all) rather than the “will of the majority.”

Squatting, or squatting, is the act of unauthorized occupation of an abandoned or unoccupied place or building by persons (squatters or squatters) who are not its legal owners or tenants, and who do not have other permission to use it. Squat is an illegally occupied premises.

Sometimes the term is not entirely accurately applied to the unauthorized use of abandoned buildings and premises, for example, when organizing free shops and flea markets, without living in them.

A club (from the English clob or club through the German club) is a meeting place for people with common interests (business, educational, developmental, entertainment, collecting, etc.), often officially united in a community, organization or association. Usually it occupies a certain room and serves for regular meetings and communication of its participants. There are also virtual clubs.

Anticafe - (also time cafe, time club) is a new format of socially oriented establishments, rapidly gaining popularity in Russia and the CIS countries.

The word anti-cafe has come into use relatively recently. It is known that the prefix “anti-” is used to denote opposition, denial; the French word cafe is also known to everyone. This results in a kind of establishment that denies the principle of it as a catering outlet. Writer Ivan Mitin came up with and implemented the concept of establishments of this class, opening the Tsiferblat establishment in September 2011. There was a lot of discussion about what to call this format of establishments. Ivan Mitin chose the term “free space”. With the light hand of journalists in the media, this format of establishments began to be called “anti-cafe”, and Ivan Mitin is categorically against this term in relation to the “Tsiferblat” project. The very concept of “anti-cafe” includes: a meeting place not in a cafe, but in an establishment where, however, you can also drink hot tea or coffee. Essentially, this is a place where minutes are sold. An anti-cafe is a room for communication, not for food.

Bilateral cultural exchange is most consistently manifested in the activities of various cultural centers representing the culture of their countries abroad. There are such cultural centers in the UK, Germany, Holland, Italy, France, Scandinavian countries, etc. Such organizations have different names, for example, foreign cultural centers, cultural information centers, cultural educational centers, cultural institutes.

Important to remind

Foreign cultural centers (institutes) are specific organizations with different statuses that carry out work aimed at disseminating and popularizing the culture and language of their country abroad.

Such organizations are united by common goals - the formation of a positive image of the country abroad. In their work, they reflect the diplomatic practice of the state and are part of the cultural mission carried out by the embassy or consulate.

The activities of foreign cultural centers are related to the dissemination of information abroad about the culture, education, history and modern life of their country. They strive to develop bilateral relations, organize cultural, educational, information programs, and language courses. Their important task can be called supporting compatriots abroad.

The main forms of work of foreign cultural centers are film screenings, festivals, exhibitions, tours, master classes, conferences, holidays related to the cultural traditions and memorable dates of their country.

The centers pay great attention to organizing meetings for a wide foreign audience with representatives of culture, science, and public figures.

The official status of these organizations varies. They may be subordinate to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, partially perform its functions in the field of culture (for example, the French Institute, the British Council) or be public organizations, associations that cooperate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but are not dependent on it (for example, Alliance Française, Dante Society) .

The history of such organizations dates back to the end of the 19th century. The first public organization in the field of culture, Alliance Française, was founded in Paris on July 21, 1883 on the initiative of the famous diplomat P. Cambon with the aim of spreading the French language throughout the world and promoting dialogue between cultures, and already in 1884 its first branch was opened in Barcelona. The emergence of this organization was caused by events of a political nature. France lost in the Franco-Prussian War, and this defeat began to be perceived as the loss of its leading position on the world stage. Then representatives of culture, science and the general public of France noted that the country has another powerful resource - culture, which will allow it to return to its former greatness.

The following year, a branch of the Alliance Française opened in Paris, the administrative council of which included the outstanding French scientist Louis Pasteur, Ernest Renan and the world-famous science fiction writer Jules Verne.

Soon similar organizations began to open in other countries of the world. At the end of the 19th century, as well as in the 20th and 21st centuries. were created:

• Society of Dante (1889, Italy);
• Institute named after Goethe, or Goethe-Institut (1919, Germany);
• All-Russian Society for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries (VOKS) (1925, USSR);
• British Council (1934, UK);
• Institute of Sweden (1934, Sweden);
• Japan Foundation (1972, Japan);
• Instituto Cervantes (1991, Spain);
• Institute of Finland (1992, Finland);
• Confucius Institute (2004, China).

Representative offices of European countries have the longest and most successful practice, and an extensive geographical presence in the world. France, Great Britain, Germany. Recently, the Confucius Institute, a cultural center, has been playing an increasingly successful role in the development of bilateral cultural cooperation People's Republic of China.

Let us consider the activities of these centers using the example of the work of their Russian branches.

One of the first to appear in Russia French cultural center, better known as French Institute. This is one of the oldest organizations of this kind: back in 1912, in St. Petersburg, it organized the largest exhibition ever held outside France - “One Hundred Years of French Art (1812–1912).”

In 1917, the French Institute ceased to exist as a research and educational institution, but continued publishing journals until 1919. Today he has strong connections and actively collaborates with various organizations, museums, theaters, archives and libraries. Currently there are 138 branches in the largest countries of the world.

Nowadays, French cultural centers operate successfully in many Russian cities. One of the first branches of the organization was opened in St. Petersburg in 1992 on the basis of a bilateral intergovernmental agreement.

Basic goals The French Institute are as follows:

• 1) introduce a wide foreign audience to modern French culture and language;
• 2) promote intellectual and artistic contacts between France and foreign countries;
• 3) increase the prestige of French culture in the world.

The French Institute is headed by a president, the main current work is carried out by the secretariat. The Institute consists of a media library and an information center.

In St. Petersburg alone, the media library of the French Institute contains more than 12 thousand books in French, more than 99 titles of subscription publications (newspapers, magazines), as well as many videos, CDs and audio cassettes, which can be used on site or taken home. The media library often hosts meetings with writers and publishers from Francophonie countries, and shows French television programs received via satellite.

An information center has been created at the media library to provide information to specialists and organizations.

The following events of the organization have now become traditional: international days of Francophonie, which are held with the participation of the French Language Center and the Alliance Française association (see more about it below), French music seasons, a European film festival, a music festival (July 21 of each year), French Ball (July 14th of each year), Reading Festival (October of each year).

Cultural events of the French Institute are held in the following areas:

• theatrical and musical connections - touring practice, organization of master classes and joint Russian-French projects;
• fine arts – exhibition activities, organization of mutual visits and internships of Russian and French artists;
• literature - promoting French books on the Russian market, organizing meetings with French and French-speaking writers and publishers;
• cinematography – organizing weeks and retrospectives of French films, holding meetings with directors and actors from France.

Experts' opinion

The French Institute finally took on the role of a bridge between the scientific and creative institutions of the two countries. To a large extent, thanks to this role, the conditions have developed for the further strengthening of the French cultural presence in St. Petersburg, which is one of the largest metropolises in the country (5 million inhabitants), which still remains the cultural capital of Russia, even if for a long time without the funds for this . St. Petersburg is called upon to remain an important scientific and creative pole of attraction, worthy of its role as a “window to Europe” in a country that has undergone profound changes.

Philip Evreinov, Secretary General of the French Institute

In 1992, in St. Petersburg and Moscow, on the initiative of academician A.D. Sakharov and the French writer Marek Halter, French University College. This organization is an example of the development of bilateral educational relations. Leading teachers from the Sorbonne and other French institutions conduct lectures and seminars at the college. Students have the opportunity to receive a free education in the field of humanities and social sciences - history, literature, philosophy, sociology, and law. Students who speak French can receive a diploma officially recognized in France, as well as a scholarship to continue their studies at one of the French universities with which the college has signed a cooperation agreement. For students who do not speak French, studying at the college provides the opportunity to obtain a diploma in French regional studies. In addition, students have the right to visit the library named after. Philippe Habert, numbering more than 4 thousand French books and 10 titles of French magazines.

Along with the French Institute, a non-profit public organization representing French culture, the association, successfully operates in Russia "Alliance Française"(Alliance Francae.se)(Fig. 8.1) . The main direction of her activity is language training.

The Russian network "Alliance Française" includes 12 associations located in Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Perm, Rostov-on-Don, Rybinsk, Samara, Saratov, Togliatti and Vladivostok.

Important to remember

"Alliance Française"– public organizations registered on the territory of the Russian Federation in accordance with the requirements of Russian legislation. The main purpose of their activities, clearly stated in the charter, is the promotion of the French language and culture.

The Alliance Francaise Foundation, created in 2007, became the historical successor of the Parisian Alliance Francaise, founded in 1883. It unites more than 800 branches located in different countries of the world.

Rice. 8.1. Alliance Française emblem

Language training at Alliance Française is carried out according to a general and specialized program and is designed for nine levels. In addition to French language courses, there are courses in phonetics, grammar, business and legal French, French in tourism, French language and regional studies, French for children, as well as a special program - French through song.

In addition to organizing courses, Alliance Française conducts tests to determine the level of language proficiency.

Cultural events at Alliance Française are varied and directly related to language training. Thus, musical environments have become traditional, organized jointly with the St. Petersburg House of Journalists and the Conservatory, the program of which includes the performance of works by French composers.

The Alliance Française theater troupe, together with artists from the St. Petersburg theaters - the Bolshoi Drama Theater and the Alexandria Theater - gives charity concerts and performances based on the works of French playwrights. Studios of diction and recitation, as well as literary translation, are actively working.

Another European organization actively promoting the culture of its country abroad is Institute for the Development of the German Language Abroad and International Cultural Cooperation named after. J. W. Goethe, better known as Goethe Institute (Goethe-Institut) or Institute named after Goethe(Fig. 8.2).

The Goethe-Institut was created in 1919 and was originally the cultural department of the German Foreign Ministry. Soon the German Academy was founded in Munich. Then, within its framework, the Goethe Institute was opened, which trained Germanists from other countries. In 1945, the Allied government abolished the German Academy, accusing it of spreading fascist ideology.

Rice. 8.2.

In 1951 the Goethe-Institut was revived on new democratic principles. Initially, he specialized in training teachers of the German language, and then the scope of his activities expanded significantly. In 1953, the first language courses opened, at the same time the institute set the task of promoting the German language abroad. In 1959–1960 all state federal cultural institutions abroad became part of the Goethe-Institut. In the 1960s an extensive network of its branches began to be created. In 1968, it began its cultural program activities. In 1976, an agreement was signed under which the Goethe-Institut was recognized as the plenipotentiary representative of the German government for cultural relations. This document also regulates its relations with foreign branches. With the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989, the Institute. Goethe expanded his activities in Eastern Europe, which led to the opening of a large number of his branches in this region.

In 2004, the information center of the Goethe Institute in Pyongyang was opened. In 2008 and 2009 branches were opened in Dar es Salaam, Novosibirsk and Luanda. In Russia, branches of the Goethe-Institut operate in three cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg and Novosibirsk.

Goals of this organization are the following:

• popularization of German culture and the German language abroad;
• dissemination of up-to-date information about the cultural and scientific life of Germany;
• providing methodological assistance to teachers and educational institutions in the field of studying the German language.

The institute's budget is 200–255 million euros. It consists of government subsidies (3/4) and income from commercial activities (1/4) (courses, exams for a standard diploma).

The institute, its main areas of activity, programs and courses are managed by representatives of the German side.

The structural units are a bureau and an information center with 5 thousand books in German, periodicals, CDs, video and audio cassettes.

The cultural events of the Goethe Institute cover the following areas of activity: theatrical and musical relations (developed mainly through the organization of touring exchanges), relations in the field of fine arts and photography (organization of exhibitions), cinematographic projects (festivals, retrospectives of the German film week), scientific relations.

The joint events of the Goethe Institute with the Russian side are also of significant interest.

Another area of ​​its activity is the organization of language courses of varying duration and intensity, as well as testing according to the programs of leading German universities.

Expert opinion

While politicians have decided on sanctions against Russia, the President of the Goethe Institute, Klaus-Dieter Lemani, emphasizes the importance of dialogue between cultures: work with Russia must be strengthened. He clearly spoke out against the cultural boycott of Russia. In an interview with the German radio "Culture" K.-D. Lehmann said that the Goethe-Institut, on the contrary, would try to “keep the doors open on both the left and the right.”

Politicians adhere to a strictly formalized way of acting and are ritual-oriented. Culture, on the contrary, can start a dialogue and destroy clichés - and this is its strength. Therefore, a boycott in the cultural sphere due to the Crimean crisis would be a false step.

“We would rather strengthen our work in Russia and Ukraine than stop or weaken it,” Mr. Lehmann said.

Rice. 8.3.

UK culture is represented abroad by the organization British Council(Fig. 8.3), carrying out activities in the field of culture, education and professional training, being at the same time a diplomatic representation of its country. His target– development of international partnership and mutual understanding between countries. Today, the British Council has offices in more than 230 cities in 110 countries.

The British Council's activities in the field of international cooperation are concentrated in the following areas: art, literature, design; education and training; teaching English; methods of public administration and human rights; training in management, theory and practice of business; scientific, technical and cultural cooperation; exchange of information and knowledge.

Main goals The British Council are as follows:

• inform the world community about the cultural diversity and latest achievements of Great Britain;
• eradicate outdated stereotypes about the country that have developed abroad;
• provide information about various educational opportunities in the UK, including language training at different levels;
• develop cultural and intellectual exchange with European countries.

The British Council operates under the patronage of the Queen of Great Britain and the Prince of Wales.

Important to remember

On the one side. The British Council has diplomatic status, on the other hand, it is an independent cultural and educational organization that provides information and educational services to Russian citizens, including paid ones.

The main body of the British Council is the board of directors, which meets once a month to resolve the most important issues related to financing and developing activity programs. This body is headed by the Director of the British Council and is assisted by advisory bodies.

Directly in the UK, there are two main offices of the British Council in London and Manchester, and there are also offices in Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Branches of the British Council consist, as a rule, of the following divisions: libraries; information center; English language center; center for educational projects; examination services department; department of cultural projects; Department of Science and Technology.

The British Council Library provides a wide selection of educational, methodological, and fiction literature in English, a variety of teaching aids, video and audio materials. Classes, seminars, and summer courses are held here on a wide range of issues related to the history and current state of Great Britain and its culture.

The Information Center has information about the UK, including reference materials, manuals from UK educational institutions, and information about events taking place abroad with the support of the British Council.

In addition to information activities, the center holds cultural events: exhibitions, master classes, festivals, etc.

The English Language Center specializes in conducting courses and language programs at various levels. Among them are courses in everyday and business English, courses for military personnel, retired people, representatives of small and medium-sized businesses, creative and scientific workers. In addition, the center provides services for passing exams for English language certificates.

The Projects Department promotes professional training and academic partnerships between universities in Russia and the UK. In particular, the British Council provides foreign specialists with the opportunity to take a postgraduate course at one of the British universities, as well as participate in internship programs for managers at enterprises in the UK. In addition, it facilitates obtaining a scholarship to study at one of the country’s universities and offers internship programs.

The Projects Department provides programs in the following areas: management in commercial companies, management training program, academic partnership programs between universities, environmental programs, programs in the field of financial services and trade, privatization and reconstruction of enterprises and government work.

One of the promising areas of activity of the department is ecology. The British Council is the coordinator of the small projects program in this area.

The British Government's Department for International Development finances the know-how fund, manages its work and provides technical support, transferring knowledge and experience to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The purpose of the fund is to support transition processes in this region, ensure its effective development and involve all levels of society in these processes.

Projects supported under this program may include study tours, training courses or short-term internships in the UK, seminars in Russia and the UK, consultations and the development of partnerships between similar organizations in both countries.

The events prepared by the cultural department of the British Council are of great interest. Organizers of cultural programs rely mainly on modernity, novelty, and quality.

The cultural events of the British Council reflect the main goals and objectives of this organization; they strive to introduce Russians to the full diversity of British culture, its history and current state, new forms and types of avant-garde art.

An annual project of the British Council in St. Petersburg has become the British Film Festival, held in the spring of each year.

There were different periods in the history of the presence of the British Council in Russia. In the 90s XX century – beginning of the 21st century. The organization has consistently increased its volume of activities and expanded its geographic presence. However, due to the political confrontation between Russia and Great Britain and the unsettled legal framework for the organization’s activities in Russia, the British Council has significantly reduced its projects. Branches were closed in Samara (2007), Irkutsk (2008), Petrozavodsk (2008), Tomsk (2006), Krasnoyarsk (2007), Nizhny Novgorod (2007), Yekaterinburg (2008), St. Petersburg (2008). Currently, the organization's branch operates only in Moscow.

Assessing the activities of the British Council, we can conclude that the organization certainly presented interesting projects in Russia and demonstrated original approaches to organizing bilateral cultural exchange. However, its politicization and difficult political conditions for bilateral cooperation played a negative role in the development of cultural cooperation between Russia and Great Britain. Unfortunately, the potential of bilateral interaction between the two countries, which played a significant role in world culture, has not been used.

European cultural centers are the oldest organizations in the field of bilateral cultural cooperation. However, today an increasingly significant role in this direction is played by the cultural centers of China, known in the world as the Confucius Institute (Confucius Institute)(Fig. 8.4). The name of the outstanding thinker, philosopher, and ancient teacher Confucius was given to a network of institutes similar to the Spanish Cervantes Institute and the German Institute named after. Goethe.

Confucius Institutes are part of a global network of international cultural and educational centers created by the State Office for the Propagation of the Chinese Language Abroad. The single global network also includes Confucius classes that perform similar functions. On the Chinese side, Hanban Headquarters coordinates the work and provides funding for cultural and educational organizations.

The first Confucius Institute was opened on November 21, 2004 in the capital of the Republic of Korea, Seoul, but already in 2012, the VII World Congress of Confucius Institutes in Beijing gathered delegates from 335 institutes and more than 500 Confucius classes from around the world.

Some Confucius Institutes have a specialization, for example, the Afiya Institute specializes in business, the London Institute specializes in the presentation of Chinese medicine.

Today, there are 17 Confucius Institutes in 14 cities in the Russian Federation: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Ryazan, Kazan, Elista, Blagoveshchensk, Novosibirsk, Tomsk, Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Nizhny Novgorod, Ulan-Ude, Irkutsk, Yekaterinburg, Volgograd .

Each of the institutes provides language training, organizes cultural events, and introduces the audience to the traditions of the Middle Kingdom. An interesting example of the organization’s activities can be the projects of the Confucius Institute at St. Petersburg State University. This organization was opened on the basis of the Eastern Faculty of St. Petersburg State University, which is a recognized educational and scientific center. The faculty has been teaching Chinese for more than 150 years. That is why, in the educational programs of the Confucius Institute of St. Petersburg State University, there is a real opportunity to combine advanced domestic experience with the latest teaching technologies and educational materials developed in the PRC. The agreement on the establishment of the Confucius Institute at St. Petersburg State University was signed in July 2005, and its activities began in February 2007. The Capital Normal University (Beijing, China) became one of the most active and modern centers for teaching Chinese to foreigners. language. The goal of the Confucius Institute at St. Petersburg State University was to strengthen friendship and mutual understanding between China and Russia by disseminating information about the culture, language, economy and social life of China. Important areas of the institute's activities are organizing courses in Chinese language and culture, conducting Chinese language testing, organizing internships in China, organizing competitions, and promoting sinological research.

The Confucius Institute in St. Petersburg actively participates in cultural and educational events in the city related to China. Closely

Rice. 8.4.

cooperates with schools and public cultural organizations that teach Chinese in order to exchange experiences, hold joint concerts and celebrations. As a center for the dissemination of culture, the Institute organizes creative meetings, competitions, exhibitions, Chinese holidays and celebrations of tolerance at the university and government institutions.

Cultural events include artistic exhibitions, such as photo exhibitions about China, book fairs, film festivals, music lessons, calligraphy exhibitions, Chinese classical and folk dance; special classes and master classes are organized, for example, “World Heritage in China”, “Tai Chi Training”, “Culture of National Chinese Costume”, “Chinese Food”, “Confucius and Confucianism”, etc. There are traditional holidays celebrated - Spring Festival, Lantern Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, Chinese National Day, etc.

The most interesting language event of the Institute is the student competition "Chinese Language Bridge", which has been held since 2002 by the Chinese State Committee for Teaching Chinese Abroad.

In December 2010, at a congress in Beijing, the Confucius Institute at St. Petersburg State University was awarded the title of “Advanced Confucius Institute”.

In 2014, the Confucius Institute at St. Petersburg State University, together with the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China, held a student competition for knowledge of the Chinese language, which is part of the global competition "Chinese Language Bridge".

In general, the activities of the Confucius Institute are diverse. The projects cover many areas of cooperation and are designed for a fairly wide audience. The Confucius Institute plays an important role in the development of bilateral cultural cooperation and uses various original approaches to this end.

Expert opinion

The Confucius Institute has existed since 2004, it is a cultural response to the German Institute. Goethe (founded in 1951), the British Council (existing since 1934) and the Alliance Française (founded in 1883, but operating on a slightly different model). The success of Confucius Institutes lies in simple numbers: today more than 350 institutes have been opened around the world - a hundred more than the British Councils or the Institutes. Goethe.

While the world market is already oversaturated with British and German culture. there is still room for China. Hanban aims to increase the number of Confucius Institutes to 1,000.

Thorsten Pattberg is a German writer, linguist and cultural scientist. Author of the books "East-West Dichotomy", and Shenzhen"

Bilateral exchange through cultural centers has a number of features that are associated primarily with the promotion of one’s own culture and the creation of a positive image of the country abroad. To solve these problems, such areas of bilateral cooperation as culture and education are traditionally chosen. Let us note that the main emphasis is on the achievements of modern culture, knowledge about which, due to political reasons, until recently was inaccessible to residents of Russia. These tasks are most effectively solved on the basis of such established forms of cultural exchange as tours, exhibitions, educational grants, scholarships, and internships.

When developing strategies and specific programs, foreign cultural centers take into account both the national specifics of their partners and their own interests. Only a harmonious combination of these factors can ensure the success of their activities.

The importance of creating favorable conditions for the work of foreign cultural centers in our country is noted in the Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation (approved by the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin on February 12, 2013). At the same time, the creation of centers of Russian culture abroad should also become one of the main tasks of the state’s cultural policy at the present stage. Analyzing the activities of foreign cultural centers, it should be noted that many of their projects have outgrown the framework of bilateral contacts and can be considered as an example of multilateral exchange. Such, for example, is the project “Choose the Best Writer”, organized by the Central City Public Library. V.V. Mayakovsky in St. Petersburg, which is carried out by foreign cultural centers and consulates. This trend reflects the realities of modern international relations in the context of globalization.

Noting the positive aspects in bilateral cooperation through foreign cultural centers, it should be noted that the issues of the official status of such organizations are not fully resolved, as noted in the Federal Law on Public Associations of May 19, 1995 No. 82-FZ (as amended on 03/08/2015 ) . In addition, such organizations are instruments of the “soft power” of their country, which determines the choice of priorities in their activities.

As an example of bilateral cultural relations, one can also name projects of international content with different implementation periods and financing, carried out both at the state and non-state level.

• Evreinov F. The rebirth of the French Institute in St. Petersburg // Alliance Française and the French Institute. URL: af.spb.ru/afl0/if2_ru.htm (access date: 01/16/2016); In St. Petersburg: a collection of historical essays. URL: af.spb.ru/afl0/if2_ru.htm (access date: 01/16/2016): Rzheutsky V. S. Alliance Française in St. Petersburg (1907–1919) // Alliance Française and the French Institute in St. Petersburg. Collection of historical essays. URL: af.spb.ru/afl0/if2_ru.htm (access date: 01/16/2016); For K. Re-creation of the Alliance Française in St. Petersburg (1991–2001) // Alliance Française and the French Institute in St. Petersburg. Collection of historical essays. URL: af.spb.ru/afl0/if2_ru.htm (access date: 01/16/2016).
• Francophonie(fr. La Francophonie)– international organization for cooperation of French-speaking countries of the world.
• Alliance Française and the French Institute in St. Petersburg. Collection of historical essays. URL: af.spb.ru. Dialogue with Russia: “Keep the doors open on both the left and the right.” President of the Goethe-Institut is against boycott in the cultural sector. URL origin-goethe.de/ins/ru/mos/ uun/ru 12531382.htm (access date: 10/21/2015).
• URL: east-west-ichotomy.com/%D0%Bl%Dl%83%D0%B4%Dl%83%D 1%89%DO%B5%DO%B5-%D1%85%DO%BO%DO %BD%D1%8C%DO%B1%DO%BO%DO% BD%D1%8C-%D0%B8-%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8%D1 %82%D1%83- %D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B2-%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%84%D1%83%D1%86/ (date of access: 16.01 .2016).
• URL: archive.mid.ru/brp_4.nsf/0/6D84DDEDEDBF7DA644257B160051BF7F (access date: 12/28/2015).
• Theses "Foreign cultural policy of Russia - year 2000". pp. 74–86.
• URL: docs.cntd.ru/document/9011562 (date of access: 08.11.2015).

Modern cultural centers bear little resemblance to the club-type institutions of the Soviet era, when more than thirteen million people alone participated. In addition, houses and palaces of culture existed at the expense of the state, visiting any studios and clubs, any type of amateur performances was free, unlike what happens now. Most often, neither educational nor leisure tasks are faced by institutions of the club plan of the Russian Federation.

Terminology

What does a cultural center mean in the understanding of modern people? Most often, this term is used when one wants to designate an organization or certain buildings where various values ​​of the surrounding society, most often from the field of art or culture, are concentrated, multiplied and promoted. This may be a public artistic association or a private initiative, but most often cultural centers are run by the state.

Use of the term

This term is used in practice when it is necessary to indicate which category an object belongs to. This is either talking about a large multifunctional complex that can simultaneously cover several spheres of culture or art forms, that is, institutions and objects with a narrow specialization cannot be called this term. When the traditional cultural function of an institution is one, it is not a center. For example: library, museum, theater, concert hall and so on.

In the second case, they talk about a cultural institution that has a confessional, national, social orientation. For example, the Russian Cultural Center in the state of Monaco, which was founded not so long ago, through a library, a children's school, language courses and a Russian club, not only supports native Russian-speaking people in nearby areas, but also introduces the native residents of Monaco to the diversity of Russian realities.

Variety of shapes

It turns out that the boundaries within which this term is used are quite blurred. On the one hand, it is close to the traditional form of the institution, which is represented by the People's Club, the Palace or the House of Culture. On the other hand, these are types of public organizations such as national associations or art centers.

These can be exhibition galleries, libraries and concert halls, if all kinds of educational and educational work are carried out there, that is, if these are broad-based organizations where culture and science cooperate.

Character traits

Nevertheless, one important feature of a cultural institution must be present, regardless of its type - this is the non-profit basis of activity. As well as promoting a culture of a multilateral and integrated nature. If they say about a city, for example, that St. Petersburg is an important industrial, transport and cultural center, then this does not mean a separate institution.

You can also talk about the distinctive feature of a certain area, that is, the same term, only in “urban planning” use. For example, there is a place in the city where all the theaters, concert halls, libraries, stadiums and even a zoo are concentrated. This may have happened historically, but it is likely that this was the plan of the “city fathers.”

It must be admitted that many modern cities are built according to this principle: infrastructure - kindergartens, schools, hospitals, public gardens and parks are present in remote neighborhoods, but cultural buildings are moved beyond their boundaries. This area where they are concentrated can easily be called the cultural center of the city. And this will be the next value.

In 2008, the Ministry of Culture developed options for planning cultural centers in order to optimally balance their occupancy and costs. A schedule for the creation of such institutions in small towns of the country has also been drawn up. In Moscow, it was created by fifty people, among whom were journalists, architects, museum workers, writers, and artists. The rich experience of the Soviet era was discussed, when cultural institutions were present even in the smallest villages and were extremely functional.

Each had a variety of children's clubs and studios, choirs, folk theaters, interest clubs, and periodically held all kinds of public events and amateur art shows. When building cultural centers, this experience had to be taken into account. In 2015, about fifty such institutions should have already opened.

Club or House of Culture

In the USSR, every House or Palace of Culture was necessarily a center of educational and cultural work. The classification of such institutions was as follows: territorial clubs and cultural centers under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture; departmental - under the control of a trade union of an enterprise, educational institution, institution, and so on; clubs for the intelligentsia: Teacher's House, Writer's House, Architect's House, Artist's House and others; House of Culture of a separate state farm or collective farm; House of Officers; House of Folk Art; Palace for pioneers and schoolchildren.

Club institutions in other countries

The countries of the former USSR and the Warsaw Pact, like the Russian Federation, are now moving away from the names of the Soviet era. now they call it pompously: Concert Hall or cultural center. However, in many places the old names remain due to tradition. In addition to socialist countries, similar institutions (not in name, but in essence) have existed in many capitalist countries for a long time and have been functioning successfully.

There are a lot of cultural centers in Latin America (they are called Centro cultural), in Spain. Folk art and social activities are extremely developed in Germany, for example, in the House of Culture of the Peoples of the World in Berlin, concerts, performances, festivals, exhibitions are held, and all these mass events are prepared with the support of the government, but on a voluntary basis. In France and Canada, club-type institutions are called houses of culture (Maison de la Culture), and their activities are absolutely similar to the clubs in our country during the Soviet era. In Montreal alone there are twelve such cultural centers.

Arkaim

There have always been cultural centers throughout Russia, and now new ones are being created: parks with natural landscape themes, as well as historical and archaeological ones. There are many places in the country where such distant times are studied, about which even folklore no longer remembers anything.

Centers where culture and science interact are becoming very popular, for example, the city of Arkaim (Chelyabinsk region), where two seemingly unremarkable hills were discovered, in which archaeologists became interested. This discovery was sensational.

At first, representatives of all kinds of esoteric groups flocked there, then the study of the area came under the wing of the state, and a reserve was formed. By the way, he is not alone there: the “Country of Cities” of the Southern Urals has twenty-four such places where the cultural center is a city.

The experimental site from which the reserve began to develop gradually revealed a number of ancient dwellings from the seventeenth century BC. The reconstruction focused on one of them first, and it was done without modern tools, using only those made exactly like the Bronze Age examples found during excavations.

This is how a cultural and historical center was born, called the Museum of Ancient Industries. Tourists can not only look at buildings dating from the age of the pyramids, but also take part in experiments, as well as in the construction itself, and in the reconstruction of houses. Only here are more than four hundred interesting places where you can get acquainted with the culture of different eras.

Tatar settlement

Cultural institutions have many types: these are libraries, museums, theaters, cultural centers and palaces. And there are complex, syncretic ones, such as the NOCC on the outskirts of Stavropol. Its base was the Tatar Settlement, the local history museum and the local university. Cultural centers have united to combine scientific, security and museum (exhibition) work with cultural, entertainment and educational activities on the territory of this archaeological paleolandscape park.

This is a very complex, one might say, multi-layered monument that operated in four historical periods: Khazar, Sarmatian, Scythian and Koban. The cultural centers of Russia almost nowhere have such well-preserved fortifications, religious buildings, with systems of roads, burial grounds and many other objects through which one can trace different aspects of the life of our very distant ancestors - from the eighth century BC. These are the ruins of ancient walls, strewn with centuries-old shards of jugs and pots, the ashes of fires and hearths that went out hundreds and hundreds of years ago.

Prospects

The preservation and use of archaeological heritage, as a rule, takes place through the creation of such complexes on the basis of open-air museums that will combine scientific, educational and many entertainment activities, which is why many cultural centers of historical and cultural orientation are now open and are preparing to open.

In small towns, any community of local historians with the support of the local administration can become the basis for their functioning. Even a cultural center can become a starting point for creating a center for studying the historical heritage of the region. The road can be mastered by those who walk, so it is necessary to help enthusiasts who are starting this path in every possible way. Almost all successful enterprises start small; here you can recall the museum of technology located in the Moscow region. Cultural institutions must enjoy full support from the state.

Problems of development of small towns

The government is interested in creating new educational and entertainment facilities in the form of historical and cultural centers in small towns of Russia. Back in 2013, government materials included language outlining the goals for such work.

The cultural centers of Russia are distributed very unevenly. Most of their concentrations are in big cities. Therefore, there is a disproportion in the quantity, quality and variety of cultural services that citizens receive in the country. The cultural centers of Moscow or St. Petersburg cannot be compared in these parameters with the services offered to residents of remote small settlements. And everyone, without exception, needs to create new opportunities for creativity, self-realization, physical development, and spiritual enrichment.

Many dozens of different nationalities live on the territory of Russia, and cultural centers can promote a full-fledged cultural exchange between neighboring nationalities. The quality of life with the good work of unifying multifunctional centers will contribute to improving the quality of life of the population, regardless of place of residence. This path will also help develop the infrastructure of a village or city, and even create new jobs. The outflow of population from small towns will be prevented.