Performing Thyself: Sparking Imagination and Exploring Ethnic Identity Through Singing and Dancing

The subject of the research is works of Russian fine art with Crimean themes from the end of the XVIII – beginning of the XX century based on the analysis of theoretical developments of Russian scientists in the field of cultural heritage, which reveals the problems of a comprehensive step-by-step systematic cultural study of fine art with Crimean themes from the moment of its appearance in the late XVIII century to the beginning of the XX century. The aim is to identify the features of the study of the Crimean landscapes as a cultural heritage of Russia. The study of art in a socio-cultural context highlights the issues of the integration of the Crimean Peninsula into the Russian socio-cultural space after its annexation to the Russian Empire in 1783; the relationship between the activities of artists in the "new" territories and the development of the landscape genre in Russian art. Socio-cultural, historical, genetic, typological methods, artistic and stylistic analysis, and the principle of historicism are used. The study of Crimean landscapes as a heritage reveals new facets in the history of Russian culture and art. At the end of the 18th century, the Russian landscape genre was just emerging, and the activity of painters in the annexed territories contributed to the development of the Russian national landscape. The author's main contribution is to study the Crimean theme in Russian painting in a broad context, to develop the stages of development of the genre of the Crimean landscape, and to establish continuity in the work of artists. The novelty lies in the approach of studying Crimean landscapes in the paradigm of cultural heritage, in the author's periodicals, in the formulation of prerequisites and factors for the appearance of landscape painting in Russia based on domestic material.

The article defines the main directions of library and information activities to popularize the historical and cultural heritage among the youth; the problems of cultural values influence on the spiritual and moral development of young people are considered. It is stated that in working with youngsters to promote the historical and cultural heritage of Russia, traditional and innovative forms of enlightenment and educational practices remain in demand. The mechanisms for promoting cultural values of the country in the educational, cultural and leisure activities of library institutions are revealed on the example of the State Universal Scientific Library of the Krasnoyarsk Territory. The experience of the regional library in the implementation of social and cultural projects aimed at forming the national and civic identity of young people is reflected. It is indicated that the socio-cultural design of the library is a unique technology that can systematically perform operations and procedures, ensure the reliability of results, and the flexibility of implementation. The features of the organization of project activities are highlighted - information, consulting and subscription services, information support for self-education of participants in each project. The creation in the library of the historical and cultural space “The Book Heritage of Krasnoyarsk”, which during the project contributed to the convergence of the value orientations of young people and older people, made it possible to use diverse innovative forms of promoting cultural and historical heritage. It is noted that the library projects helped to convey to the youth the cultural traditions of the peoples of Russia, the Krasnoyarsk Territory, brought the organization of educational events to upgrade the book culture to a higher qualitative level, created conditions for the use of modern technologies. Project initiatives result in the library becoming a powerful tool for the cultural and reproductive activities of young people in mastering the most important achievements of Russian culture through access to information resources, the main component of which is the book.

В статье рассматриваются проблемы и закономерности цифрового сохранения культурного наследия с учетом обширного опыта создания цифровых объектов, связанных с культурным наследием, и их популяризации в современном информационном пространстве. Анализируются процессы социальной кооперации людей, заинтересованных в сохранении памяти об историческом и культурном наследии России и СССР, приводятся успешные примеры и дается систематизация закономерностей их взаимодействия на примере частного проекта «Сохраненная культура». Рассматриваются принципы организации негосударственной грантовой поддержки цифрового сохранения наследия, вопросы привлечения молодежи к процессам сохранения и доступа к цифровому культурному наследию и анализируются результаты проведенных социально-информационных экспериментов по созданию и популяризации объектов культурного наследия в информационном пространстве. The article examines the problems and patterns of digital preservation of cultural heritage, taking into account the extensive experience of creating digital objects related to cultural heritage and their popularization in the modern information sphere. The processes of social cooperation of people interested in preserving the memory of the historical and cultural heritage of Russia and the USSR are analyzed, successful examples are given and a systematization of the patterns of their interaction is given using the example of the private project «Preserved Culture». The principles of organizing non-governmental grant support for digital preservation of heritage, issues of involving youth in the processes of preservation and access to digital cultural heritage are considered, and the results of social and information experiments on the creation and popularization of cultural heritage objects in the information sphere are analyzed.

The article examines the concept of atlas information systems (AIS) and the experience of their design and creation in the field of protection of natural and cultural heritage of the Russian Federation. When considering various AIS, thematic, territorial and historical approaches were used. Examples of functioning and designed AIS in the field of protection of natural and cultural heritage of Russia are given, which do not always have the direct name of atlas information systems, but in fact are. Such AIS may relate to individual protected areas, as well as to a series of protected areas of a certain territory, to large UNESCO World Heritage sites, to local, city, regional, provincial and federal levels; some of them are characterized by the principle of poli-scale. The creators of the AIS are mentioned: scientific and educational institutions, the Russian Geographical Society, departments and organizations, the management of protected areas and enthusiasts. Atlas information systems have the ability to integrate and create cartographic and multimedia data on natural and cultural heritage sites, traditional cultural landscapes, and environmental violations that hinder the preservation of monuments. AIS is a place where organized data is concentrated on natural and cultural objects of state protection that are promising for protection, and on lost heritage objects. Information about cultural landscapes as objects of traditional interaction between man and nature can and should also be contained in a such system. Atlas information technologies make it possible to combine data on natural and cultural heritage and, accordingly, facilitate the information unification of various departments. In the near future, heritage-related AISs have the chance to move to the stages of gradual implementation and operation.

Reading a text is very important at any age in any sphere of life. Some children have serious problems in reading and sometimes they are encouraged to read more and faster in order to prove the quality of their reading skills, however, rate and understanding do not always correlate. Skills to understand and analyse the text are of primary importance in reading process. Usually the rst reading experience is acquired during elementary school when children master their basic reading skills and form their attitude to reading. Skills to understand the text is one of the basic requirements for successful study process. Understanding of the text and reading skills do not only mean relating the text to spoken words and merging letters in words; they also imply skills to understand, analyse and evaluate the written text. The aim of the study is to analyse creative teaching methods of reading literacy in pedagogical process and to make recommendations for adults to improve children’s reading skills. Materials and methods include an analysis of literature on pedagogy and psychology of Latvia and abroad. Literature analysis re€ects dierent methods that can be used in pedagogical process to train reading skills by exercising various activities and resources. Literacy and especially understanding of the text is directly in€uenced by the environment where the child lives and learns, as well as educational systems, traditions, opportunities and personal goals. The article analyses reading problems for individuals with dyslexia or reading disabilities. Children with dyslexia have di‚culties in understanding the correlation between the letter and the sound and merge letters together to form a word. These children need individual approach to training reading skills. Dierent strategies can be used to improve the understanding of the text and in that way raise literacy of children in general. The principle of creativity serves as a reliable basis of creative methods. There are dierent creative methods of teaching literacy which can be used in pedagogical process in order to train children reading skills by exercising dierent activities and resources. The main methods are “READS” method, “CAPS” method and “KWL” strategy.

PurposeThis paper aims to discuss the main trends, opportunities, challenges and success factors in the Russian hospitality and tourism market.Design/methodology/approachThe study sets the tone for the theme by evaluating the overall economic situation in Russia and the prospects of the tourism and hospitality market by taking into account the existing institutional environment, as well as the natural resources and cultural heritage of Russia. The articles in this theme issue are drawn both from academia and industry.FindingsThis paper sheds light on the key trends and challenges with respect to leveraging the cultural and economic potential of the Russian hospitality and tourism market. The opportunities for Russia’s hospitality and tourism market are reviewed, and the success factors relating to the Russian hospitality and tourism market are explained.Practical implicationsThis study identifies a number of implications for practitioners and policymakers that will allow Russia to leverage its huge but greatly under-rated and untapped potential as an attractive tourist destination. This requires a clear understanding that networking is crucial in the experience economy era to ensure that the aspirations and concerns of all key stakeholders are taken into account given that a lot of different resources and competencies are needed to provide tourists with a combination of experiences, and thus to make a destination attractive for target audiences. It will help Russian practitioners to understand better which factors are crucial for gaining competitiveness in the experience economy era and to find new ways of business improvement. It will also assist practitioners from other countries to understand local environment and find new perspectives of doing business in Russia. Whilst not all key stakeholder voices are represented in this theme issue, the discussions and implications that are drawn out are of importance to all stakeholder groups.Originality/valueThis is the first time a journal issue has focused on the challenges and prospects of the Russian tourism and hospitality market. The research through this theme issue contributes to the literature on BRICS markets by highlighting the specifics of the Russian market. It also provides an understanding of the ways in which Russian cultural heritage and natural resources can be deployed effectively for a positive impact on inbound and domestic tourism and hospitality and on the prosperity of Russian regions and local communities.

In this article I consider the creativity of the famous Russian-speaking Kabardian poet Inna Kashezheva. Her poetic works are the phenomena which united cultures of Russian and Caucasion peoples. According to the works of Inna Kashezheva and the facts of her biography, this article describes the experience of the cross-cultural communication. Cultural heritage of Russia is considered as one of the basic components of the Caucasian poetic culture.

Russian experience of studying and preserving cultural heritage is considered in the context of the most important international documents of UNESCO and ICOMOS. The author emphasizes the most important methodological importance of international documents and traces their influence on the principles and directions of monument protection in Russia. The problem of "authenticity" is highlighted, which is particularly relevant and controversial among the restoration community. The author posed the problem of studying and preserving the "intangible" heritage, which is in demand today.

This book explores the cultural politics that have shaped the recent history and practice of a unique style of folk song that originated in Bắc Ninh province, northern Vietnam. The book delves into the history of quan họ, showing the changes it has undergone over the last sixty years as it moved from village practice onto the professional stage. The book presents a vivid and historically contextualized picture of the quan họ “soundscape.” Village practitioners, ordinary people who love to sing quan họ, must now negotiate increased attention from those outside the village and their own designation as “living treasures.” Professional singers, with their different performance styles and representational practices, have been incorporated into the quan họ soundscape in an effort to highlight and popularize the culture of Bắc Ninh province in the national context. With its focus on the politics of rescuing, preserving, and performing folk music, the book shows how a tradition can become a self-conscious heritage and national icon. In 2009, Quan Họ Bắc Ninh Folk Songs was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Defining and reframing quan họ as cultural heritage has further complicated the relationship between village and professional quan họ and raises crucial issues about who has the authority to speak for quan họ in the international context. The book offers an in-depth account of the impact of cultural politics on the lives and practices of quan họ folk singers in Vietnam and shows compellingly how a tradition can mean many things to many people.

Chapter 5 examines how and why the VOV music ensembles are keeping their red music relevant in contemporary Vietnam. In the reform era, the ensembles were separated into two groups: the national or ethnic music ensemble (nhóm nhạc dân tộc), comprised of traditional instrumentalists and folk singers, and the new music ensemble (nhóm nhạc mới), which performs Vietnamese songs and instrumental music composed for choir and chamber orchestra. Drawing on fieldwork at the radio studios in Hanoi, this research provides an ethnographic account of contemporary music production processes at the station. The first case study examines how recordings by the traditional music ensemble, a versatile group of instrumentalists and folk singers, represent and reify the three major cultural regions of Vietnam. The second explores how productions by the new music ensemble, which reference the musical styles of DRV revolutionary opera, memorialize government achievements, valorize heroes of the past, and are made relevant to the contemporary political context through references to current issues such as territorial claims in the South China Sea. Rather than dismiss these musicians as political puppets, the chapter investigates their creative, pragmatic approaches to the constraints and contradictions of life in a (post)socialist state. Meanwhile, culture brokers working at these national broadcasters are leading the politicization of this intangible cultural heritage, a process they justify with the language of cultural sustainability.

This article examines the role of expert review in the development of an electronic register of Russian cultural heritage sites abroad. The relevance of the study stems from the need to preserve and promote Russian cultural heritage, a unique aspect of global culture. In the context of globalization and digitalization, there is an urgent demand for modern tools that ensure the reliability, systematization, and accessibility of data to a broad audience. A significant challenge lies in the unreliability of information sourced through crowdsourcing platforms, which undermines the scientific integrity and trustworthiness of the collected data. To address this issue, the study focuses on the implementation of expert review as a mechanism for enhancing data quality and scientific validity. The primary goal of this research was to integrate a double- blind review system into the process of creating an electronic register of Russian cultural heritage sites. The methodology included automating data verification processes, incorporating crowdsourcing technologies, and utilizing a mobile application to facilitate user interaction with the register. A key feature of the system was the clear allocation of roles among participants, which minimized errors and expedited the record-processing workflow. The trial, conducted from July to November 2024, processed 318 records, with 89.5% approved and published by reviewers, while 10.5 % were returned for revision. The average processing time per record was 33 hours, significantly below the established limit, underscoring the system’s efficiency. These results affirm the reliability and effectiveness of the proposed approach. The study also highlights the necessity of further system development. Specifically, integrating artificial intelligence technologies is recommended to automate the initial stages of record analysis, thereby reducing reviewer workload and improving processing speed. Additionally, the potential for adopting alternative review models, such as open and post-publication peer review, is discussed as a means to enhance transparency and engage a wider audience. The findings demonstrate that the combination of professional editing, expert review, and process automation create a robust and efficient tool for preserving and promoting cultural heritage sites. This methodology offers a promising framework for future applications in the international context.

This study aims at investigating the perceptions of science teachers in Omani Basic Education schools regarding the difficulties they face in using creative teaching methods in the classrooms. The sample comprised 130 science teachers of basic education schools in the governorates of Muscat and the Interior. For the purpose of the study a 42-item questionnaire covering five domains – teacher, student, subject, school administration and other difficulties – was developed and administered by the researcher. The validity of the questionnaire was checked by a panel of experts and practitioners in science: Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient was found to be 0.923. Results revealed that the main difficulties that teachers encounter when using creative teaching methods are: exclusion of topics that may promote creativity from textbook content, inadequate pre- and in-service training, discouraging teachers thinking creatively, teachers’ weak intrinsic motivation, their heavy workload, and the absence of a free academic atmosphere. The results also show no significant differences between teacher’s perceptions of the difficulties in using creative teaching methods with respect to gender or the school district. A few recommendations have been proposed based on the findings.

This study aims at investigating the perceptions of science teachers in Omani Basic Education schools regarding the difficulties they face in using creative teaching methods in the classrooms. The sample comprised 130 science teachers of basic education schools in the governorates of Muscat and the Interior. For the purpose of the study a 42-item questionnaire covering five domains – teacher, student, subject, school administration and other difficulties – was developed and administered by the researcher. The validity of the questionnaire was checked by a panel of experts and practitioners in science: Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient was found to be 0.923. Results revealed that the main difficulties that teachers encounter when using creative teaching methods are: exclusion of topics that may promote creativity from textbook content, inadequate pre- and in-service training, discouraging teachers thinking creatively, teachers’ weak intrinsic motivation, their heavy workload, and the absence of a free academic atmosphere. The results also show no significant differences between teacher’s perceptions of the difficulties in using creative teaching methods with respect to gender or the school district. A few recommendations have been proposed based on the findings.

The purpose of the article is to consider the problems and issues in the field of preserving the histor-ical and cultural heritage of Russia in the early 2000-s, in the solution of which social activists took an active part. The authors highlights the special role of public-state interaction of the executive and legislative authorities with the biggest public organization of memorial protection sphere – the All-Russian society for the monuments of history and culture protection. The authors comes to conclu-sion that a lot of important decisions of the beginning of the 21-st century, which made it possible to preserve the architectural complexes and landmarks of the past, were a continuation of the work of VOOPIK with authorities at both the regional and federal levels.

The Cultural Heritage of Russia and Globalization