MECHANISMS FOR THE FORMATION OF CULTURAL IDENTITY IN THE ART MUSEUM AS A SPACE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

Abstract

The article examines key mechanisms for the formation of cultural identity within the framework of the art museum functioning as a space of public education. Based on an analysis of museum practices, discursive strategies, and exhibition approaches, the study reveals the role of the museum not only as a custodian of cultural values but also as an active mediator in identity-forming processes. Special attention is given to phenomena such as exhibition interactivity, the dialogic nature of cultural codes, the semiotic richness of visual space, and the integration of museum pedagogy in shaping stable forms of cultural affiliation. As a case study, the exhibition “Path to the West” at the National Art Museum of China is examined in detail, demonstrating how the symbolic representation of images of Western China fosters a sense of shared cultural unity among viewers. The article concludes that the art museum plays a significant role as an institution that strengthens cultural identity in a pluralistic and dynamically transforming sociocultural context.