Cultural heritage of Astrakhan oblast in the regional cultural policy

The problem of preservation and effective use of the cultural heritage of a country is complex and multidimensional. In Russia, faced with a number of cardinal changes in various fields, including cultural, in the post-Soviet period, the problem is particularly acute. Its solution is one of the most important areas of cultural policy of the state and each of its individual regions. In this sense, the experience of the Lower Volga Region, a region representing a multicultural space, is interesting. On its example, the author of the article, using the method of cross-cultural analysis, examined the state of regional objects of cultural heritage and the possibility of their use. During the study, the specifics of the cultural heritage of Astrakhan Oblast, the history and features of the formation of an array of historical and cultural monuments located in the region were studied. Further, the prospects for using the cultural heritage of Astrakhan Oblast for regional economy’s development were identified, examples of the reconstruction of historical objects in order to adapt them to mass tourist demand were studied. The author proposed a modular approach to the study of the cultural landscape and highlighted the basic modules of the cultural heritage of Astrakhan and Astrakhan Oblast. As a result, the author identified both positive trends characterising the regional cultural policy regarding the preservation and popularisation of cultural heritage and real problems, the unresolvedness of which sometimes leads to the complete disappearance of some objects due to their predatory exploitation or replacement by their simulacra. It is emphasised that simulacra replace the lacunae formed during the disappearance of memory of real historical objects. The author identifies three main scenarios that describe the fate of cultural heritage as a result of the application of certain measures of state regulation (pessimistic, optimistic and realistic). It is indicated that, in the Russian Federation, it is the state that should play a leading role in the implementation of investment projects in order to maintain the integrity of culture and preserve the cultural heritage of Russia. However, the state is not able to make financial investments that fully cover the full scale of restoration work. This actualises a change in the management system for the preservation of cultural heritage and its use. As a possible way out, creation of a civilised market of cultural heritage objects, with various forms of public-private partnership, provision of wider rights to business, can be considered.