The impact of cultural potential on the socio-economic development of small towns: the producer's approach

The article examines the role of cultural and creative potential as a catalyst for the socio-economic development of small towns under conditions of depopulation and resource centralization. Based on the analysis of contemporary Russian practices, the producer approach is substantiated as an innovative methodology for territorial development management, enabling the transformation of cultural assets into economic and social outcomes. Institutional forms of implementing this approach (city producers, producer clubs), along with their key functions and mechanisms of impact on the urban environment, are examined. In conclusion, systemic challenges are identified, and recommendations for integrating producer models into state policy for the development of small towns are proposed.