Social and Cultural Significance of Cultural and Educational Environment in Krasnoyarsk

The aim of this work is to review and analyze the needs of citizens and the city, concerning the cultural, spiritual and intellectual development, for the subsequent creation of comfortable, diverse cultural and educational space in each area of the city. The paper studies the creation of the cultural and educational environment and examines the socio-cultural situation in the city. Design/methodology/approach: The theoretical approach is based on works of sociologists and philosophers, cultural studies, and a few studies of architects. In fact, there is no systematic approach to design of cultural and educational spaces in Russian cities. As a result, in practice a lack of understanding is identified for the role of the city environment as a social and economic system. There is also a shortage of such studies concerning Krasnoyarsk. As a result, the paper poses problems of designing a system of cultural space and complexes that currently develop in Krasnoyarsk. The role of culture for the city life along with the historical influence of cultural centers on the city development are considered. Research findings: Analyzing the location of cultural objects on the city map one can observe a stereotype that is established in the minds of people: the center is a cultural point, and the absence of cultural sites on the periphery or a sharp decrease of their quantity in non-central districts is supposedly normal. In most cities of Russia the phenomenon of cultural monocentricity is observed. It implies the concentration of the cultural function in the city center and its deficit on the periphery can be noticed. The analysis of needs of citizens is made for the potential subsequent creation of models of cultural and educational spaces in each city area. Practical implications: Based on the results, current trends and algorithms of the implementation of proposed scheme are suggested. Recommendations for approaches to the architectural design of cultural and educational complexes and spaces are made. Cultural and educational complexes seem not as vital for surviving as, for example, schools, universities, hospitals, etc. However, it is necessary to support the desire of citizens to visit cultural places, progress, learn independently (outside school or university), engage in creativity and create all possible conditions for their implementation. Originality/value: Taking into account the existing theoretical studies, a sociological survey is compiled for residents of the city. Using various theories, the needs for cultural development and social recognition are investigated. Based on the survey, a problem was formulated, and suggestions were made about the need for further research. It is found that the presence or absence of cultural spaces significantly influence the life of people in a particular district or city: the lack of alternatives for self-expression and leisure provokes the rise of internet, television and other forms of destructive activities, slowing down the cultural development of the city. The study provides the complex strategic solution for the problem.