Ethno-consolidating role of art in sustainable development of cross-border regions

Abstract

This article explores the capacity of art in consolidation of the society on ethnic grounds. This affects the sustainability of regional development, results of the exchange of sociocultural experience between the generations of culture bearers and, and overcoming severe socioeconomic and sociopolitical problems in general. The subject of this research is the ethno-consolidating role of art. The theoretical-methodological framework of leans on the trend of ethnic art studies. The article is based not only on the theoretical consideration of the indicated vector, but also on the results of empirical research, such as expert survey of administrative employees of the cultural, art and educational institutions (cross-border regions of Russia: Altai Krai, Altai Republic, Kemerovo Region, Kazakhstan: Pavlodar and East Kazakhstan Regions, n=120); expert survey of the government officials and local self-governance that are responsible for implementation of regional and municipal programs aimed at preservation and development of ethno-national cultural assets in cross-border regions of the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan (n=65). The following conclusions were formulated: 1) ethnic consolidation of culture bearers in cross-border regions can be effectively realized through the phenomena of traditional and indigenous art; 2) the current processes of assimilation of cultural values and norms, ethnic tension, intercultural dialogue, and the phenomenon of multiculturalism as a whole can blunt the effect of art upon ethnic consolidation of the society, although not affecting the pace of intergenerational interaction, in which the important role is allocated to art; 3) art carries out a consolidating role in the society based on continuity of values and norms.