Funfair past and present for geocultural branding of Ural cities

Abstract

The subject of this research is the funfair past and present for geocultural branding of Ural cities. The object is the geocultural potential of small historical Ural cities – Irbit and Krasnoufimsk. In the course of study it was established that in modern urban space there are noticeable creative initiatives that demonstrate an alternative vision of image of the city and its local communities (production, consumer, artistic). It is underlined that geocultural resources of the city is a fusion of particular natural-landscape and sociocultural resources that permanently “provoke” arrangement of a situation for a creative action – determination of latent capabilities of these resources and their subsequent utilization for the purpose of testing new promising suggestions, are useful for artistic self-expression, as well as mending an effective strategy for geocultural branding of the city. Solution of the indicated problems leans on the concept of geocultural branding of the city and territories in the forma that it was described in scientific writings of D. N. Zamyatin, as well as on the theory of creative city of C. Landry, namely the thesis on creative action. The scientific novelty consists in demonstration of potential application of the concept of geocultural branding to a funfair action. Shifting away from the traditional understanding of designation of funfair, its recognition as the generator of “creative energy” of the city, the center of cultural and artistic activity of the people, allows finding consensual solutions between the local authorities, business communities and creative groups.