Provincial Culture in the Context of Russian Culture of Small Historical Towns (Using the Example of Murom)

The article examines the phenomenon of provincial culture in Russia using the example of the small historical city of Murom as a unique cultural space where historical memory, Orthodox tradition, folklore and local crafts intersect with modern forms of cultural life. Small towns are analyzed as special centers of preservation and reproduction of the national cultural code, acting as an alternative to the globalized mass culture of megacities. Particular attention is paid to museum practices, educational initiatives, festival and tourism activities, as well as the cultural and symbolic resources of the territory, which contribute to the development of intercultural dia-logue and the maintenance of local identity. It is emphasized that the city of Murom, as a small city in modern Russia, simultaneously bears the features of tradition, manifested in the preservation of epic-heroic, Christian-Orthodox and craft-trade priorities, and Art Nouveau, as it continuously develops, relying on its provincial cultur-al heritage, preserving historical memory and promoting cultural and symbolic resources of its territory.