The transformation of regional cultural budgets: Pandemic lessons and new priorities

The article presents the results of an analysis of the dynamics and structure of budget expenditures on culture in the regions of the Russian Federation for the period 2018–2023, with a focus on the subjects of the Northwestern Federal District (NWFD). The research is conducted in the context of the influence of key factors in recent years: the COVID-19 pandemic and the shift in national priorities under the conditions of the special military operation (SMO). The study reveals a contradictory trend: despite the nominal growth of budget allocations for culture both nationwide and in the NWFD, their share in the total structure of consolidated budgets has decreased. We established that the pandemic did not lead to a serious reduction in absolute funding volumes but slowed its growth rate and exerted a substantial indirect impact by triggering an emergency reallocation of resources toward vital industries, which caused the decline in the relative importance of culture within the system of budget priorities. The paper also reveals meaningful regional differentiation in the volume and growth rates of expenditures, allowing for the identification of leading and lagging regions. Special attention is paid to the analysis of wage dynamics for cultural sector workers, which not only lags behind the all-Russian average but is also characterized by a significant gap between institutions at the federal, regional, and municipal levels. In conclusion, it is argued that, starting from 2023, culture is acquiring a new strategic status associated with the tasks of ensuring cultural sovereignty, patriotic education, and ideological consolidation, which is already reflected in the increase in its funding volumes. However, the further effectiveness of state cultural policy will depend not only on the nominal growth of financial allocations, but also on their targeting and alignment with the new strategic objectives.