The activities of club institutions in organizing citizens leisure in 1953–1964 (based on materials from Ulyanovsk region)

Abstract

   The period 1953–1964 represents a unique period in Russian history, characterized by radical sociopolitical transformations and a search for new paradigms of social development. The era of the so-called Khrushchev “thaw” marked a turning point not only in the political sphere but also in cultural development. With the democratization of public life, club institutions acquired particular significance as centers for the cultural education of citizens. This paper identifies three key areas of club activity: lecture propaganda, entertainment events, and the organization of amateur performances. Club activities were characterized by a duality: on the one hand, strengthening administrative control, on the other, activating proactive forms of cultural creativity, which contributed to the formation of a unique sociocultural space in Soviet society.