Philosophical, ethnosocial and historic research grounds of art crafts (part of regional culture)

The role of the entire diversity of folk art types in the formation of regional cultures is considered in this very article. Systematizing the arguments of philosophers, culturologists, ethnologists and art historians, the author states the importance of art crafts in the development of the culture. Also the author deals with the importance «small culture» in the formation of a personality. The comprehension of «natural» local communities is suggested to be realized throughout a comprehensive study of the art crafts. The author introduces the original concept of regional culture and states it as a historically developing (under specific geographical conditions), complex, multicomponent and multilevel system of material and spiritual values created by people, sociocultural norms and methods of their distribution and consumption, which determine the process of self-realization and disclosure of the individual's creative potential in different spheres of life in a certain territory. To determine the significance, place, volume and depth of the art crafts studies in the educational process, the author recommends to considere them in a comprehensive manner, in the interconnection of the universal, national and regional aspects.