Formation of a qualitative cultural environment of small towns and historical settlements as a priority factor of the socio-economic development of the regions of the Russian Federation

The article discusses the factors of formation of a high-quality cultural environment in small towns and historical settlements, a key condition for achieving their successful socio-economic development. Along with systemic measures that are being taken to overcome bureaucratic, urban planning, environmental, organizational, regulatory and other barriers along this path, attention should be paid to new factors affecting the state of the cultural environment of historical cities. Centrifugal migration of intellectual and entrepreneurial resources from big cities to small towns and historical settlements is becoming more and more tangible as such a factor.