National cultural centers are an innovative type of cultural institutions. The role of cultural centers in the development of bilateral cultural cooperation. Making national costumes

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).

The representative offices have the longest and most successful practice and an extensive geographical presence in the world. European countries – 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 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 having the means 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, general secretary French Institute

In 1992 in St. Petersburg and Moscow, on the initiative of Academician A.D. Sakharov and French writer Marek Halter was opened 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 in the territory 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 special program – French through a 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 institutions cultures abroad became part of the Goethe Institute. 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 tasks 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, 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 history and current state Great Britain and its culture.

The Information Center has information about the UK including: reference materials, manuals from UK educational institutions, 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 XXI V. 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 Propagation 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 in 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, National Day of China, etc.

The Institute's most interesting language event 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. Recreating 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).

Multinationality of Russia. Most regions of Russia are multi-ethnic communities (for example, 120 nationalities live in Moscow, 113 nationalities live in the Republic of Buryatia, 119 in the North Caucasus, etc.). In this regard, regionalism is a natural, organic principle of the territorial organization of ethnocultural processes. Manifesting itself in customs, types of mentality, cultural characteristics (for example, “Siberian character”, culture of Siberia), it is determined by a common identity, culture, history, geography. The cultural development of regions presupposes the revival and development of the national cultures of all ethnic groups inhabiting the region, and poses serious tasks in the field of development of languages ​​and national education.

Relevance of ethnocultural centers. (Hereinafter referred to as the ethnic cultural center - ECC). The system of (ethnic) socio-cultural institutions is in demand due to dynamically changing socio-economic and political conditions. The crisis state of society causes crises in national relations, especially chauvinistic and national extremist sentiments, inhumane actions towards national minorities and migrants in society. Socio-cultural institutions of an ethnocultural orientation, which represent an extensive system including national representative offices, national-cultural autonomies, centers, associations, communities, unions, etc., are capable of weakening and preventing them. Regulatory and legal documents marking the mission of ethnic culture in the development of the cultural diversity of Russia, which acts as the subject of intercultural interaction and communication, ensuring peoples the right to preserve and develop their national identity, and organic entry into the world community, as well as the role of specialists in ethnocultural activities in these processes:

• - National Doctrine of Education (2000),
• - “The concept of modernization of Russian education until 2010”,
• - Federal target program “Culture of Russia for 2006-2010”,
• - Materials of the meeting of the State Council of the Russian Federation (2006),
• - Concept for the development of education in the field of culture and art for 2008-2015 (2008),
• - Concept for the development of universities of culture and art in the Russian Federation (for the period until 2010) (2007), etc.

Normative documents and programs of the UN and UNESCO:

• - “The concept of sustainable development”,
• - “Recommendations for the preservation of folklore”,
• - “Masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of the peoples of the world”, etc. Documents ensuring the participation of socio-cultural institutions in the formation of future specialists:
• - Federal law dated November 27, 2002 No. 156-FZ “On Employers' Associations” (as amended as of December 1, 2007);
• - Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of January 21, 2005 No. 36 “Rules for the development, approval and implementation of State Educational Standards, providing for the participation of employers in their development”;
• - Order of the Ministry of Education of Russia dated December 30. 2004 No. 152 on the creation of a council for state educational standards vocational education with the introduction of representatives of employers' associations into it;
• - Letter of the Ministry of Education of Russia dated November 12, 2004 No. AS-827/03 “On the mechanism for making changes to the current State Educational Standards of Higher Professional Education, taking into account the requirements of employers”;
• - Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of December 24, 2008 No. 1015 “On approval of the rules for the participation of employers in the development and implementation of state policy in the field of vocational education”, etc.

Socio-cultural institutions of ethnic orientation are organized associations of people. Institutions of the socio-cultural sphere represent a large network of institutions that provide cultural activities, the processes of creation, dissemination and assimilation of cultural values, as well as the inclusion of people in a specific subculture that is adequate for them. These include institutions dealing with the preservation and development of ethnic culture, creating conditions for the population to satisfy ethnic needs and interests.

ECC as a socio-cultural institution of ethnocultural orientation - represents associations of people that perform socially significant functions of preserving and developing the traditional culture of an ethnic group, ensuring joint achievement goals based on the fulfillment by members of the ethnic group of their social roles, set by ethnocultural values, norms and patterns of behavior in a multiethnic community.

An ethnocultural association is a voluntary, self-governing association of citizens - representatives of an ethnic community, living in a foreign environment and exercising the right to national and cultural self-determination, which is created in order to preserve national and cultural identity, develop national self-awareness, language, education, customs and rituals.

Ethnocultural associations, being regulators of national cultural policy in the regions, act as a special institution of civil society, capable of attracting ethnic diasporas to participate in solving problems of society, and a modern cultural institution that organizes educational, cultural, leisure and other activities of the multiethnic population.

Types of ethnic associations.

According to their implementation, priority areas and forms of work, ethnocultural associations can be classified as:

• 1) powerful ethno-national cultural centers created in the largest economic regions by a national minority that has its own state education outside the region of residence (for example, Tatars, Bashkirs, Buryats, etc.);
• 2) fraternities, national associations of people deprived of their class: Cossacks, representatives of ethnic identity, having their own cultural tradition (for example, Old Believers);
• 3) ethnocultural centers for the revival and preservation of cultural traditions small peoples; centers “Revival of the Small Motherland”; cultural centers of spiritual direction, etc.

1) ethno-connotated institutions: social communities (ethnicity, ethnic groups, ethnic diasporas, etc.); specialized institutions (ethnocultural associations, national cultural centers, Houses of Nationalities, Houses of Friendship of Peoples, houses and centers of folklore, houses of crafts, children's centers of folk culture, etc.). Their essence is in the integrative potential, in combining efforts to cultivate the ethnic self-awareness of the individual, his tolerant attitude towards the multi-ethnic community, in organizing joint, coordinated and coordinated ones.

Regional and municipal models of ethnocultural revival.

One of such models is national-cultural autonomy - a form of extraterritorial public self-determination of ethnic communities, acting in order to independently resolve issues of preserving identity, developing language, education, national culture. Currently, there are 14 federal and more than 300 regional and local national-cultural autonomies in Russia. The largest number of national-cultural autonomies were created by Germans (68 in 24 constituent entities of the Russian Federation), Tatars (63), Jews (29), Armenians (18), Ukrainians and other ethnic groups. Their activities are coordinated by the Advisory Council for National-Cultural Autonomies under the Government of the Russian Federation (2002). Basic forms of activity. These include: the creation of public theaters, cultural centers, museums, libraries, clubs, studios, archives, etc.; organization of creative unions and professional and amateur art groups, circles; holding mass events in the field of national culture (festivals, competitions, shows, exhibitions, etc.). Ethnocultural activity is a complex complex of various types of activities (cognitive, artistic and creative, pedagogical, design, technological, expert, etc.) aimed at: preserving and developing folk artistic culture; organization of cultural and leisure activities of the ethnic association; development of national identity and national identity members of the region's diaspora population; for ethno-pedagogical activities that ensure the familiarization of the younger generation with ethnic culture. The concept of “professional ethnocultural activity” comes down to the content of the specialist’s activity, to the totality of the functions he performs in the ethnocultural center (organizational and managerial, artistic and creative, projective, pedagogical, etc.). The professional activity of a specialist is a complex, hierarchically structured, multifunctional, multi-level and dynamically developing structure with great opportunities for wide switching from one to other functions and levels of professional activity. The optimal and most useful activity of ethnocultural associations is manifested in solving various socio-cultural problems related to issues of cultural self-determination and the development of one’s ethnic group; - implementation of goals aimed at establishing interethnic, intercultural contact, and nurturing ethnic tolerance.

The main functions of the ECC are to form ethnic self-awareness, ethnic identification, ethnic stereotypes of diaspora representatives by means of ethnic history and culture, language, emotional closeness with the ethnic community;

Ethnic socialization through a system of successive connections in a group of different ages;

• - creating a favorable ethno-social environment for the ethnic group in a multi-ethnic environment, through active participation in the cultural life of the region;
• - ethno-consolidating function of members of an ethnic group, creating conditions for maintaining cultural distance between peoples in order to prevent cultural and everyday assimilation;
• - atmosphere of relieving tension in interethnic relations, their harmonization and prevention of interethnic conflicts; support and protection of the individual in a crisis society.

The socio-cultural potential of ethnocultural associations is enormous and goes beyond the purely ethnic aspect. The associations update the civic activity of members of the diaspora in the form of environmental, cultural, religious movements, participation in the implementation of targeted regional programs for the revival and development of ethnic groups, etc.

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 also exist within public artistic associations, and through 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 integral part 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 community center involves the interests of society as a guide 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 settlement 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.

An ethnocultural center - the center of traditional culture of the peoples of Russia - must form its own positive image, attracting public opinion to its side. The formation of a positive image can be facilitated by the establishment of awards and prizes for organizations and citizens supporting the institution, as well as the establishment of partnerships and relationships with various social, political and other organizations. Today, cultural and leisure institutions remain a massive and accessible means of introducing people to culture, developing their spiritual potential, a center for organizing holidays, and preserving their own folk culture. The priority direction in the center’s activities should be the development of interethnic relations and cultural exchange not only in Russia, but also beyond its borders at the international level. Team participation folk art centers in republican, interregional, all-Russian, international festivals, holidays allow not only to demonstrate the richness, uniqueness and diversity of the culture of the peoples of Russia, but also contributes to the development of cultural exchange, the preservation of friendly relations, interethnic cooperation, the formation and strengthening of a positive image of the cultural activities of the entire society. In this regard, ethnocultural institutions can use a different arsenal professional forms cultural work, for example, to create a National Costume Gallery with a permanent lecture hall where samples will be collected national clothes peoples of Russia; hold photo exhibitions of folk costumes; organize a workshop for sewing Dagestan national costume, hats, shoes, making jewelry, etc., where costumes will be sewn not only for folklore creative groups of the region, but also for village residents, which will attract children and youth to study ancestral crafts, traditions of decorative applied arts, will serve to preserve folk costumes and the cultural development of the village; organize circles and schools of artistic skills under the guidance of experienced craftsmen to train young people in order to preserve and popularize traditional folk artistic crafts in places where certain types of traditional folk crafts exist; create workshops for the manufacture of musical instruments, teaching this art to children and youth will serve to preserve the continuity of generations with an exhibition of folk musical instruments, where master classes can be held with the participation of master makers, famous musicians who know the secrets of instrumental craftsmanship and playing them, and many others. .; the creation of a cultural project “Books - cultural memory”, which will help preserve the history and traditions of the village, the memory of the people, the personalities who glorified their village and left a mark on Russian culture, to awaken interest and desire to study the multinational culture of the peoples of Russia. This activity will serve patriotic education, the formation of high moral standards and aesthetic tastes, the establishment of universal moral values, the unification of generations, and will contribute to the involvement of the younger generation in the work of collecting material about the history of the village, its past and present, bearers of folk traditions, masters of arts and crafts arts that are the property of national culture, as well as works of oral folk art (legends, sayings, parables, tales, etc.). Holding holidays of friendship, folk costume, national instrument, crafts and folk crafts “Rural Compound”, “Songs and Dances of My People” and other traditional holidays, festivals with the participation of people from the village and many others, can also have a tourist attraction and become objects of acquaintance with ethnoculture, natural attractions of the village, region. The implementation of such artistic and creative projects will contribute to the preservation of the traditional artistic heritage of peoples and the development of ethnotourism. Cultural tourism, in turn, will become a powerful lever in financial support artistic heritage, a stimulus for the development of folk crafts and crafts, will give a new impetus for the preservation of folk groups, because Performances by folklore groups and demonstrations of unique ethnoculture are among the points of attraction for tourists.

Ethnocultural centers - cultural and leisure institutions are called upon to provide: information support, coordination creative activity, enriching intermunicipal and interethnic cultural dialogue by holding events within the framework of cultural exchange (festivals, tours of creative groups in villages, neighboring areas, cities, exhibitions, etc.), systematic study of sociocultural problems, issues of demand for cultural and leisure services by the population, the state of activity of cultural and leisure institutions in the village and district. Cultural workers need to improve the quality of activities of cultural and leisure institutions as centers of interethnic cultural cooperation between the peoples of Russia, attract and develop the cultural potential of the population, creating a positive image of their village and people.

An example of such an ethnocultural center is the Volgograd regional public organization Cossack ethnocultural complex “Heritage”.

The purpose of this ethnocultural center is to:

• - Preservation and revival of traditional national culture;
• - Association of Cossack youth;
• - Cultural and educational activities. Organization of recreation;
• - Education and development of aesthetic, moral and spiritual qualities, through familiarization with the Cossack culture;
• - Education in the field of history, Orthodoxy, the national language “Gutora”, culture and traditions of the Cossacks:
• - Creating conditions for the physical and volitional development of the individual.

Areas of activity:

• A) educational center:
  • - Orthodoxy;
  • - Story;
  • - Ethnography;
  • - Ethnolinguistics;
  • - Folklore;
• B) military sports center:
  • - Parachute training;
  • - Travel school;
  • - Basics of sambo, hand-to-hand combat
  • - military-tactical training.
• B) folklore and ethnographic studio:
  • - Reconstruction of Cossack rituals;
  • - Study of the singing traditions of the Cossacks;
  • - Household choreography;
  • - Folklore theater;
  • - Folklore ensemble.
• D) center for design and applied creativity:
  • - Production of thematic souvenirs and household items;
  • - Making jewelry;
  • - Rag doll.
• D) center of traditional Cossack clothing:
  • - History of the Cossack costume;
  • - Tailoring of the national clothes of the Cossacks, as well as its transformation into modern conditions (showing models, tailoring, sales).

In addition to Russian national organizations, the numerous and most active public associations in the region are: German, Tatar, Armenian, Chechen, Jewish, Dagestan, Ukrainian, Kazakh, Korean, etc.

The German Cultural Autonomy was established in 1997. Its creation was the result of ten years of development of the Russian German movement in the Volgograd region. Having united into a national-cultural autonomy, Russian Germans, with the support of regional and municipal administrations, began to focus on the development of national culture and language, especially in areas where Germans were densely populated. A German national cultural center was opened in the city of Kamyshin, classes and electives with in-depth study of the German language, and national artistic groups were created in schools. Celebrations of German culture have become traditional. A good base for this was the State Historical and Ethnographic Museum-Reserve “Old Sarepta” in the Krasnoarmeyskaya district of Volgograd, which is the embodiment of the living history of the German colonists of the Volga region. There is a German cultural center, a Sunday school for adults, and other programs here.

The regional national-cultural autonomy of the Tatars of Volgograd and the Volgograd region was formed in 1999. This organization is actively working to develop cultural traditions of the Tatar people, on the organization of national holidays - Sabantuy, Kurban Bayram, Ramadan.

Regional national-cultural autonomy of citizens of Ukrainian nationality of the Volgograd region was established in 2002. The organization was created to unite the efforts of Ukrainians in order to preserve and develop Ukrainian culture, language, protect the rights and interests of its members, establish real equality of Ukrainians with the population of indigenous nationalities, and strengthen friendship between nations.

The Volgograd regional public organization “Kazakhstan” was created in 2000, representing the interests of over 50 thousand Kazakhs of the region living compactly in the Pallasovsky, Staropoltavsky, Nikolaevsky, Leninsky and Bykovsky districts. The purpose of the organization: protection of civil, economic and cultural rights and freedoms of people of Kazakh nationality living in the region. The organization develops the cultural traditions of Kazakhs who seek help in solving social problems, supports Kazakh students, and conducts cultural work among them. The organization is in contact with the representative office of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Astrakhan. Created in 2011 and already actively operating Non-profit organization Charitable Foundation "Heritage of Kazakhstan"

The Volgograd regional public organization “Armenian Community” was created in 1997. The main goals of the organization are the protection of civil, economic, social and cultural rights of citizens, as well as the preservation and study of cultural and historical heritage Armenians With the assistance of Armenian organizations of the region, the Church of St. George was built in Volgograd. Active social and charitable activities are carried out. In 2007, a regional branch of the all-Russian organization “Union of Armenians of Russia” was created. The work of these organizations makes a significant contribution to maintaining the traditions and customs of the Armenian people in the Volgograd region, preserving interethnic peace and harmony, strengthening cultural and economic ties between the Volgograd region and the Republic of Armenia.

The Volgograd city public charitable organization "Jewish Community Center" was created in 1999 to preserve and disseminate the traditions, ethnocultural and religious heritage of the Jewish people, to satisfy the public need for charity and mercy. The Jewish Community Center is the founder of educational institutions - Secondary School "Or Avner" and kindergarten"Gan Geula." The center does a lot of cultural work. The organization promotes its work in the newspaper “Shofar Povolzhye”.

Volgograd regional public organization "Dagestan" was registered in 1999. The main goal of the organization is the implementation and protection of civil, economic, social and cultural freedoms of citizens of the Russian Federation - representatives of the peoples of Dagestan living in the Volgograd region. The Dagestan community pays special attention to religious holidays. On the initiative of this organization, volleyball and mini-football competitions are held, in which teams of different ages from representatives of different nationalities participate. A traditional mass cultural event has become held in January big concert in Central concert hall Volgograd, dedicated to the Day of Education of the Republic of Dagestan.

Koreans began to unite in our region in 2001, when the National-Cultural Autonomy of Koreans in Volgograd was created, its main goal is to revive the language, cultural traditions and customs among Korean youth. Most Koreans are engaged in growing vegetables and melons, as well as producing and selling Korean salads. On the initiative of the organization, Korean Independence Day was celebrated for several years, when Volgograd hosted regional festival Korean culture with the invitation of professional artists. Currently, the Volgograd regional public organization “Center for Mutual Help of Koreans” and the Volgograd regional public organization “Association of Volgograd Koreans” operate in Volgograd.

Officially registered national associations carry out a wide range of activities in the Volgograd region, with a number of main directions.

Firstly, this is an organizational direction: the unification of representatives of a particular ethnic group within one community, the allocation of a leadership apparatus that coordinates the activities of community members and establishes interaction with authorities and other national organizations. Largely thanks to this cooperation in the region, it is possible to maintain a favorable, peaceful environment in the field of interethnic relations and national security.

Secondly, the social direction: helping representatives of one’s ethnic group in difficult life situations, economic support, acceleration of adaptation of migrants temporarily staying or living in the Volgograd region, charitable assistance.

Thirdly, this is a human rights area: providing legal support, assistance in preparing and collecting documents, assistance in obtaining citizenship.

Fourthly, educational and cultural, focused on preserving and maintaining traditions, identity, and the language of a given ethnic community. In many ways, this activity is aimed not only at preserving one’s own traditions, but also at intercultural exchange and the development of tolerance in society.

Of course, all of the listed areas of activity of national public organizations are of a constructive nature and contribute to stabilizing the situation in the region, developing tolerance, preserving the cultural wealth and diversity of the Volgograd region

The results of these events objectively contribute to the formation of a positive image of the relevant national communities in the public opinion of the population of the region. Each of the organizations unites a fairly large number of residents of the Volgograd region of various nationalities. National public organizations of the Volgograd region are a significant factor that has a significant impact on the socio-political situation in the region. It should be noted that in addition to the direct organizers, citizens of various nationalities representing the active members of the relevant public associations took part in the above-mentioned events. This trend in the activities of NGOs indicates their interest in strengthening interethnic peace and harmony, increasing the level of interethnic tolerance, and developing mutual understanding between residents of the Volgograd region of different nationalities.

And so we conclude: the traditional culture of ethnic groups, thanks to its most important characteristics, has enduring universal significance. In the activities of ethnocultural centers, it consolidates the most significant material and spiritual achievements of peoples, acts as the custodian of their spiritual and moral experience, their historical memory.

In ethnic culture, traditional values ​​contain thoughts, knowledge, and understanding of life in unity with folk experience, attitude, and goal aspirations. A distinctive feature of ethnic culture as a mechanism that carries out the process of accumulation and reproduction of universal human values ​​is that it is based not on the force of law, but on public opinion, mass habits, and generally accepted taste.

N. M. Bogolyubova, Yu. V. Nikolaeva

FOREIGN CULTURAL CENTERS AS AN INDEPENDENT ACTOR OF FOREIGN CULTURAL POLICY

A feature of bilateral cultural relations between modern Russia and foreign countries is the creation of favorable conditions for the opening of branches of various organizations involved in the promotion of national culture and language abroad. In modern scientific and analytical literature one can find various designations applied to them: “foreign cultural, cultural-educational, cultural-information center”, “foreign cultural institute”, “foreign cultural institution”. Despite the differences in the terminology used, these concepts refer to organizations created with the aim of promoting the national culture and language of a particular state outside its borders and maintaining its international authority through the development of cultural ties.

The concept of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation “Foreign Cultural Policy of Russia” notes the special role of such organizations in modern international relations. The document emphasizes the need to provide cultural centers with foreign countries maximum opportunities to demonstrate their national culture in Russia. “This process is of great importance not only in terms of familiarizing the Russian public with the cultural heritage and cultural values ​​of other countries and peoples, but also for the formation of a befitting reputation for Russia in the world as an open and democratic state.. One of the main tasks of Russia’s foreign cultural policy is the formation the image of our country as “one of the world’s cultural centers, a venue for authoritative international exhibitions, festivals and art competitions, tours of the best foreign groups and performers, meetings of representatives of the creative intelligentsia, cultural days of other countries”2. Many of these events are organized with the direct participation of foreign cultural centers that opened in our country as a result of democratic reforms.

World practice shows that many countries now have similar organizations, but the largest, most authoritative and active are the cultural centers of France, Great Britain, and Germany. It was these countries that were the first to realize the important role of culture as an effective foreign policy tool. Currently, foreign cultural centers have been created by many countries: Spain, the Netherlands, the Scandinavian countries, the USA. Asian states are actively developing their cultural centers: China, Japan, Korea. Thus, in the fall of 2007, the Confucius Institute was opened at St. Petersburg State University. The increasing role of these organizations as participants in modern cultural exchange is confirmed by the constant growth of their number, expansion of geography and scope of activity,

© N. M. Bogolyubova, Yu. V. Nikolaeva, 2008

an increase in the volume of work, as well as a variety of forms and directions of activities carried out by them.

Foreign cultural centers can rightfully be called the most important actors in foreign cultural policy. The activities of such centers, as a rule, are part of the cultural mission carried out by the consulate and diplomatic missions of the country abroad. However, unlike other diplomatic bodies, foreign cultural centers have certain specifics. They are the ones who most effectively contribute to the formation of a panoramic view of the culture of their own country beyond its borders, make a significant contribution to the preservation of a multicultural picture of the world, carry out great work to foster respect for representatives of other cultures, involve a wide range of participants in dialogue, cultivating a sense of tolerance attitude towards representatives of other cultures. And finally, thanks to the events they carry out, they enrich the cultural space of the country in which they work.

From the point of view of scientific issues, the study of foreign cultural centers as an actor in international relations is novel and is still under development. We have to admit that there are no serious, generalizing works on this topic in both domestic and foreign science. A theoretical basis has not been developed, the question of developing a definition of the concept of “foreign cultural center” is open, and their role in modern international relations has not been studied. On the other hand, practice shows that it is foreign cultural centers that currently carry out a significant amount of work to develop intercultural relations and implement the tasks of foreign cultural policy. Based on existing experience and based on the specifics of the activities of these organizations, the following definition can be proposed: foreign cultural centers are organizations of various statuses that set as their goal the promotion of the national culture and language of their country abroad and realize this goal through a variety of cultural and educational programs. These organizations may differ in institutional features, sources of funding, areas and forms of activity. Some of them work closely with the ministries of foreign affairs of their country (for example, the British Council, the French Institute, the Goethe Institute), some are organizations independent from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (for example, the Alliance Française, the Dante Society). Despite their differences, they are united by a common goal - to create a positive image of their country outside its borders, using its cultural potential.

The first cultural centers as an independent actor in international cultural relations appeared at the end of the 19th century. In the post-war period, the network of cultural centers in the world constantly expanded. Their scope of activity began to include numerous events aimed at a wide audience, such as exhibitions, international film and music festivals. Their work in the educational sphere expands and becomes more complex during this period. Nowadays, foreign cultural centers have firmly taken a place in the modern foreign cultural policy of many states. The purpose of these centers correlates with the foreign policy objectives of the country they represent. Cultural centers use education, science, and art as a tool to achieve their goals. Despite the different directions and forms of work, as a rule, three main directions can be distinguished in their activities: educational, including linguistic, cultural, and informational. Regarding nature

There is no consensus among scientists about these organizations. However, most of them consider foreign cultural centers to be public institutions, one of the functions of which is “the socialization of individuals in the process of mastering the cultural heritage of other countries by accumulating information resources, expanding access to them for new information technology and methods of involving people in an active understanding of the surrounding reality in order to develop their intercultural competence and tolerant thinking”3.

The active work of foreign cultural centers in Russia dates back to the 90s. twentieth century, when new conditions created the opportunity to open various public organizations. The analysis of their activities is indicative both theoretically and practically. As theoretical problem the phenomenon of foreign cultural centers is of particular interest for understanding the features of the foreign cultural policy of foreign countries, the mechanisms for its implementation and the development of our own model for the implementation of cultural exchange aimed at creating a positive image of the country and its people abroad. In practical terms, the work of foreign cultural centers can be considered as an example of the implementation of cultural ties and the promotion of one’s culture abroad. Currently, many centers and institutes have opened in Russia, representing the culture of different countries of the world. There is also a tendency towards a constant increase in their number, expansion of geography, directions and forms of work. In St. Petersburg, for example, cultural centers of many countries are currently represented: the British Council, the German Goethe Cultural Center, the Danish Cultural Institute, the Dutch Institute, the Israeli Cultural Center, the Institute of Finland, the French Institute, a branch of the Alliance Francaise Association, etc. It is planned opening of the Cervantes Institute, representing the culture of Spain. All these organizations work to enrich the cultural life of our city and introduce St. Petersburg residents to the culture of the country they represent.

Among the foreign organizations opened in Russia, the greatest interest, from our point of view, is the work of cultural centers in Great Britain and the Scandinavian countries, which have their representative offices in St. Petersburg. The principles of their organization and the features of their work can serve as unique models for implementing the process of promoting their national culture and language abroad. In addition, the activities of some of them most clearly demonstrate the problems that these organizations sometimes face in Russia.

One of the largest foreign cultural centers with numerous representative offices in Russia is the British Council. The activities of the British Council on the territory of the Russian Federation are regulated by the Russian-British Agreement on cooperation in the field of education, science and culture of February 15, 1994. The first representative office of this organization was created in the USSR in 1945 and existed until 1947. The branch of the British Council was again opened at the Embassy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain in the USSR in 1967. In the Soviet Union, the British Council was primarily involved in supporting the teaching of English. The intensification of the cultural activities of the British Council began after perestroika. Currently, the main direction of the cultural policy of the British Council in Russia can be called education. The British Council carries out various educational programs, including internships, student and teacher exchanges, organizing advanced training courses, providing

scholarships for studying in the UK, conducting English language exams. A significant place in the activities of the British Council is occupied by pilot and innovative projects that are of strategic importance for the successful solution of key tasks of education reform in Russia. For example, the British Council proposed a project related to civic education. A number of projects are aimed at carrying out reforms in the field of teaching English in the Russian primary and high school, promoting democratic values ​​in education through civic education and democratic governance style.

Among the cultural events of the British Council, it is worth noting the touring performances of the Chik bai Jaul theater on the stage of Maly drama theater in St. Petersburg, an exhibition of contemporary British sculpture and painting in the halls of the Russian Museum, a production of Benjamin Britten’s opera “The Turn of the Screw” at the Hermitage Theater. An annual project of the British Council in St. Petersburg has become the New British Cinema Festival, held in the spring of each year. Recently, the British Council opened a discussion club “Fashionable Britain”, which holds round tables for those interested in the modern culture of the country and current trends in the life of British society. For example, one of the discussions was devoted to tattoos4.

In the early 2000s. Difficulties arose in the activities of the British Council related to determining its legal status in Russia from legal and financial points of view in connection with the adoption of the law on non-profit organizations5. Based on this Federal Law, in June 2004, in relation to the British Council, the Federal Service for Economic and Tax Crimes (FESTC) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation brought charges of tax evasion from funds received as a result of the implementation of commercial educational programs6. In 2005 financial side the problem was resolved, the British Council reimbursed all losses associated with non-payment of taxes. However, it should be emphasized that to date there is no special document defining the status of this organization. So it still remains actual problem, associated with the insufficient development of the regulatory framework regulating the activities of the British Council on the territory of the Russian Federation.

The activities of the British Council can be considered as a kind of independent model for organizing a foreign cultural center. This is due to the fact that the British Council goes beyond the traditional scope of work of such organizations. He places his main emphasis on various innovative projects, largely focused on cooperation with government or business structures. For example, he is involved in a program to reform the education system of the Russian Federation, in contrast to the Goethe Institute, which is focused primarily on helping to study German culture. The British Council is an example of an authoritative cultural center, whose activities solve the entire range of tasks corresponding to the foreign cultural policy of the state, in contrast to the “French model”, based on the involvement in the process of promoting national culture of a significant number of organizations, among which the main functions are distributed.

Another model of organization with similar tasks can be considered using the example of the Nordic Council of Ministers, which represents the culture of the Scandinavian countries abroad. It is an intergovernmental consultative organization established in 1971, whose members are Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland and Sweden. The northern territories also take part in its work: the Faroe Islands and Åland

islands, Greenland. In February 1995, the Nordic Information Office began operating in St. Petersburg. The main goal of the Nordic Council of Ministers is to develop and strengthen regional cooperation, create and develop contacts with central and local authorities. The organization coordinates projects and scholarship programs in the Nordic countries, conducts seminars, courses, cultural events, and develops cooperation in the fields of science, culture and art. This organization carries out its activities in the following areas: political and economic cooperation, culture and education, environmental protection, and the fight against international crime. In the early 90s. culture, education, and research projects were identified as priority areas of activity.

The main issues included in the programs of the Nordic Council of Ministers in our country reflect the priority areas in the interaction of the Nordic states with Russia. These are, first of all, ecology, issues of social policy and health care, projects for the study of Scandinavian languages ​​and various cultural projects. The activities of the information bureau of the Nordic Council of Ministers in St. Petersburg are mainly aimed at popularizing the culture and teaching the languages ​​of the Nordic peoples. Thus, days of Nordic languages, film festivals of directors from countries that are members of the Council of Ministers, exhibitions of photographs, drawings by Russian and Scandinavian artists have become traditional. In 2006, the project “Sweden: Upgrade” was launched. It represents a journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow through the Vologda region and the Volga region. Its goal is to present the image of a new Sweden, to introduce Russians to Sweden's new achievements in economics, science, culture, education, art and tourism. Meetings between Russian and Swedish businessmen, scientists and cultural figures, organization of concerts, exhibitions, and film screenings are expected. Thus, as part of the program, the trade and industrial exhibition “Swedish Brands and Feelings” was held in the Central Exhibition Hall “Manege” in St. Petersburg in March 2006 with the participation of the largest Swedish companies. In April of the same year, the choreographic evening “Andersen Project” took place at the St. Petersburg Conservatory with the participation of Danish and Latvian ballet troupes, dedicated to the 200th anniversary of G.-H. Andersen. The ballet “The Girl and the Chimney Sweep”7 was staged.

The Nordic Council of Ministers can serve as an example of another way to organize the work of a cultural center. A special feature of its activities is the unification of the efforts of participants aimed at achieving common goals that are relevant for the entire region in matters of foreign cultural policy. Moreover, most of the member countries of this organization have their own foreign cultural representations: the Swedish Institute, the Finnish Institute, the Danish Institute of Culture, the Northern Forum, etc. From our point of view, this example can be used to create a similar interstate structure with the participation of CIS countries that have common goals in terms of implementing foreign cultural policy and common cultural traditions formed even before the collapse of the USSR.

Of course, the given examples of French cultural centers, the British Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers do not exhaust the full picture of foreign cultural centers represented in Russia and St. Petersburg in particular. No less effective work is carried out by other similar organizations - French cultural centers, the Goethe Institute, the Institute of Finland, the Italian Institute of Culture. Analysis of the work of such organizations allows us to draw a number of conclusions. Exchange

through the line of cultural centers, it has features that are associated, first of all, with the promotion of its own culture abroad and the creation of a positive image of the country. To solve these problems, such areas of cooperation as culture and education are traditionally chosen. These tasks are most effectively solved in the form of touring exchanges, exhibition activities, educational grants and programs.

The presence of an extensive network of foreign cultural centers in Russia reflects the interest of many countries in cooperation with our country. At the same time, the experience of foreign cultural centers in Russia indicates certain difficulties. Firstly, the problems that have arisen in the work of the British Council indicate the need to clearly define the legal and financial status of these organizations. Secondly, the absence of a single leadership center and a single program often leads to duplication of activities of the mentioned organizations. Perhaps developing a general concept of their work, ordering them and uniting them into one complex institution would make it possible to increase the efficiency of their activities and improve interaction with each other. Thirdly, attention is drawn to the unbalanced distribution of these organizations among Russian regions. This seems relevant, given the geographical features of Russia, in which there are many remote regions that are not covered by active cultural exchange processes. Cultural centers are located mainly in the European part of Russia, while Siberia, the Far East, and the Urals represent a huge segment of cultural life in which there are no foreign centers.

And finally, there is an uneven representation of foreign cultures themselves in Russia, since not all modern states have strong, competitive cultural organizations to carry out high-quality, effective work to promote their own culture abroad. However, despite certain problems, the activities of foreign cultural centers are an integral part of modern cultural exchange and allow many people to better learn the culture of other peoples and become familiar with the spiritual values ​​of their foreign contemporaries.

Of course, cultural centers are one of the examples of modern cultural cooperation, developing in various directions and forms. Their example testifies to the desire to institutionalize and formalize issues of foreign cultural policy both in Russia and abroad. In the new millennium, the world is faced with numerous problems that require urgent solutions - terrorism and xenophobia, the loss of national identity in the context of globalization. To solve these problems, it is necessary to develop dialogue, build new principles of cultural cooperation, so that another culture does not cause wariness, but actually contributes to the enrichment of national traditions and mutual understanding.

Russia’s desire to give representatives of foreign cultures the opportunity to express themselves, to form among Russians an idea of ​​its diversity, and to develop a sense of respect for representatives of other cultures can also contribute to the solution of a number of political problems that are relevant to our country. Many interethnic conflicts, including terrorist attacks, arise as a result of misunderstandings and ignorance of foreign cultural traditions, which entails hostility and interethnic tension. Cultural ties, being a means of “soft diplomacy,” help smooth out and mitigate such contradictions, which is especially important to take into account at the beginning of the new millennium, when cases of terrorism and extremism have increased significantly.

1 Theses “Foreign cultural policy of Russia - year 2000” // Diplomatic Bulletin. 2000. No. 4. P. 76-84.

3 Public administration in the field of culture: experience, problems, development paths // Materials of the Rep. scientific-practical conf. 6 Dec. 2000 / Scientific. ed. N. M. Mukharyamov. Kazan, 2001. P. 38.

4 The British Council // http://www.lang.ru/know/culture/3.asp.

5 Federal Law of January 10, 2006 No. 18-FZ “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation” // Rossiyskaya Gazeta. 2006. January 17.

6 BBC Russia. The British Council is expected to pay taxes. June 2004 // http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/russian/russia/newsid_3836000/3836903.stm.

7 Nordic Council of Ministers // http://www.norden.org/start/start.asp.