The objective of the dissertation research is development of scientific provisions and practical recommendations on staffing of cultural institutions in rural areas aimed at forming a contingent of creative specialists capable to solve the vital issues of reviving of national tradition, raising of cultural and spiritual level, as well as developing of artistic talents of rural population. The object of this study is the process of personnel support for cultural institutions in rural areas, while the subject is a set of theoretical, methodological and applied aspects of formation of an effective system of personnel support for cultural institutions in rural areas. In the first Section "Theoretic and methodical bases of personnel support of cultural institutions", the social and economic essence and importance of cultural institutions in rural areas are considered, essence of the concept "cultural institution in rural areas" is revealed and supplemented, where it is defined as an economic organization (institution) of social and cultural area. Specific features of personnel support of cultural institutions in rural areas are defined and it is specified that the content and specificity of activity of creative workers need the necessary measures of adaptation to the current conditions of economic transformation not only in the native area, but also in accordance with needs of society. The methodology for assessing professional creative workers and staffing has been improved, which, unlike the previous ones, is based on a system approach and includes evaluation subsystems and a feedback channel with a visitor of cultural institution to form objective conclusions on results of work of professional creative workers. In the second Section "State, Trends and Laws of Staffing of Cultural Institutions in the Countryside", it was revealed that the state of staffing is influenced by key social and economic factors that lead to negative trends in the social infrastructure of rural areas. In particular, it is revealed that in Ukraine as of January 1, 2015, there are no cultural centers and club institutions in 11439 settlements (42.3% of the total number of settlements) and, respectively, there are no libraries in 13272 settlements (49.1 %). Analysis of staffing, conducted according to statistical data of the Sumy region from 2005 to 2015, has found that during the analyzed period the quantitative state of staffing of cultural institutions is characterized by relative stability, however, indicators of the educational level of professional artists remain at a low level. Thus, out of the total number of specialists with specialized higher education just 5.3% of specialists work in their specialty in 2015. There is a stable dynamics of vacant vacancies in the sphere of rural culture, which is associated with low material compensation, poor working conditions and low level of motivation of professional creative personnel. Potential possibilities of the system of higher art education in Ukraine are analyzed and the need to form a proposal of highly qualified creative personnel of the necessary specialties for rural cultural institutions. In the third Section "Creation of an Effective System for Managing the Staffing of Cultural Institutions in Rural Areas", directions of modernization of cultural institutions are justified, including development and introduction of new activities that will cause the need for creative personnel. Forecast for composition of creative personnel for rural cultural institutions was conducted, based on the use of methods of expert assessments and modeling. A motivational mechanism based on interconnected subsystems of stimulation and responsibility of qualified creative personnel for the results of their activities has been introduced. The use of motivational mechanism will provide an objective assessment of creative personnel, its involvement and consolidation in rural institutions. System of organization of personnel management for rural cultural institutions based on a nationwide, informational, communication and monitoring cluster network is justified. It is determined that the result of introduction of the personnel management system and modernization of the activities of cultural institutions in rural area, is a significant socio-economic effect, which will improve the efficiency of staffing.
