Cultural Commercialization in Russia: Trends and Socio-Cultural Consequences

The article presents the results of studying the process of cultural commercialization in Russia, an analysis of its trends and socio-cultural consequences. In the context of market transformations, the research of this problem becomes particularly relevant, as it affects the issues of accessibility of cultural goods, the preservation of national heritage and the balance between economic efficiency, and the social function of culture. The information base is data from Rosstat, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Culture of Russia (2018–2023). The results of our work show that commercialization is most pronounced in the concert sector, while museums, theaters and libraries remain dependent on budget allocations and retain the traditional funding model. The general trend indicates an increase in the consumption of paid cultural services in the country, which, of course, does not directly indicate an increase in the commercialization of the cultural industry, but indicates an increase in public interest in paid services and cultural goods. We revealed that paid cultural services consumed by the population occupy a smaller share compared to such types of life-supporting services as utilities, transport, household, medical and are secondary. We established a decrease in the share of the population participating in paid events of state (municipal) cultural institutions in 2020–2023 compared to 2018–2019. The negative impact on the commercialization of restrictive measures during the COVID-19 pandemic was noted, however, it is clarified that it is gradually recovering. Among the trends, there is a significant regional differentiation in the level of consumption of paid cultural services. The gap is caused by a number of factors that are briefly outlined in the study. The final part focuses on the socio-cultural consequences of the commercialization of culture. The paper emphasizes the need for a balanced approach to the development of the cultural sphere, combining market mechanisms with state support to preserve cultural sovereignty, heritage and national identity.