«Large unidentified movement». Festivals in Volgograd as a tool of influence on the urban environment and region development

The article discusses the concept of the festival as a form of organizing regional cultural life and a subject of cultural policy in the region, the current state of development of culture of Volgograd region. The authors present expert opinion on the work done on research of the festival movement in the Volgograd region of 80s - 90s of the XX century and now days. They examine not only festival practice, but the notion of the festival as a form of the organizing regional cultural life and the subject of cultural policy in the region. The authors analyze the current state of development of culture of the Volgograd region, the potential of cultural and symbolic resources of the re- gion for the increase of its attractiveness for tourists, creation of conditions for changes in the social and economic situation in the region. There are comparative characteristics of socio-economic development of the Volgograd region and neighboring regions. It considers problems of development and preservation of the intellectual potential of the region. This article uses the materials of focus groups and in-depth interviews of organizers, idea creators, participants and spectators of the festivals. The participants of the festival movement formulate goals and objec- tives of the festivals, the conditions under which these festivals can become the factor of the region development. This study is an attempt to systematize the practical experiments with a view to develop approaches for the creation of the festival organization model as a form of territorial development with culture. The authors are experts in the field of cultural studies with theoretical and practical experience of implementing social and cultural projects. The article will be useful for office professionals and cultural managers, cultural specialists, potential authors of projects in the sphere of culture.