Outreach work of the Kursk branch of the All-Russian society for the protection of historical and cultural monuments in the late Soviet period (1965–1993)

Relevance. Studying the activities of regional branches of VOOPIK in the late Soviet period can shed light on the process of preserving cultural heritage during the Soviet era. They often played a key role in mobilizing the public and organizing interactions with government agencies. The example of the Kursk Region, which had not previously been the subject of research in this context, allows us to identify local characteristics of monument protection and assess the contribution of ordinary Soviet citizens and collective organizations to the protection of historical memory.

The purpose is to summarize the experience of the Kursk branch of VOOPIK in promoting and using monuments from 1965 to 1993.

Objectives: to characterize the main forms of public participation in the protection of historical and cultural monuments, demonstrate the organizing role of VOOPIK in preserving historical memory, and reveal the local characteristics of this process using the example of the Kursk Region in the late Soviet period.

Methodology. To achieve the stated goals and objectives of the study, the authors relied on the principles of objectivity and historicism. Specific historical methods were used during the study: descriptive-narrative, retrospective, and historical-systemic.

Results. The study revealed the specifics of the Kursk branch of VOOPIK, taking into account the sociopolitical and cultural situation in the region. It also provided a detailed description of the forms, methods, and topics of the branch's propaganda efforts. It also highlighted the difficulties the society faced during Perestroika, which forced it to temporarily suspend its activities.

Conclusion. The study provided a comprehensive understanding of the activities of the Kursk branch of VOOPIK and its role in preserving historical and cultural heritage. It was revealed that the public's primary focus was on sites related to the October Revolution, the Civil War, and the Great Patriotic War, as, according to VOOPIK's leadership, these sites effectively addressed "communist education issues" from the 1960s to 1980s and provided concrete support for the ideological campaigns of the central and local authorities.

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