Ruslana M. Museum Affairs in Ukraine: Theoretical, Practical and Anthropological Dimensions of Historical Experience (1920's - the beginning of the 21st century).

The Thesis is devoted to relevant scientific problem the development of the museum business in the historical context of the 1920's - the beginning of the 21st century. Due to the understanding of the reasons of the appearance of museums and their public demand, the historical and cultural patterns of development of these authentic socio-cultural institutions are clearly manifested. During various historical epochs, the museum took shape of a multifunctional institution capable of carrying out a responsible humanistic mission. Improved the idea of the museum business status under the totalitarian regime with the description of the role and place of museums in the ideology of the Soviet state and the museums were finally transformed into the ideological tool of the Soviet power. It is discovered that in the second half of the 1950's until the end of the 1980's the museum business became an integral part of the process of de-Stalinization and a certain liberalization of the social and political life. It is proved that the development of museum business in the Soviet period was controversial. It was typical for the industry to be overfilled with ideology, the museum expositions were mostly devoted to the most burning issues of the day, to the questions of the Party and Soviet construction. At the same time, the museum network of the republic was growing, the Museum Fund of the country was being formed, the institutions were receiving some state funding, which allowed them to replenish their own funds. To a large extent, positive changes in museum business took place thanks to museum employees, scientists and workers of culture, who cultivated and multiplied the Ukrainian museum treasures through their titanic work. The public sector of the Ukrainian museum business is highlighted in the study. Folk museums are considered to be an integral part and a peculiar indicator of the civil society activity in the research. It is established that the development of the democratic society in Ukraine and the modernization processes in the museum sphere, connected with the formation of socio-cultural paradigms in the world in the second half of the 20th century, gave an effective impetus for the further development of the museum business during the years of independence of Ukraine. It is proved that the anthropological factor is the decisive factor in the development of the museum business and the preservation of museum exibits. During all historical periods Ukrainian museums were created by the intellect, labor and self-sacrifice of the Ukrainian culture figures. The researcher introduces the author's concept of museum social development. Taking into account the influence of socio-historical processes, the main provisions of the new conceptual museum vision help determine more clearly the place of the museum in the society. It is established that an important factor in the innovative changes in the museum activity is the introduction of information and communication technologies, which considerably expands and deepens the dialogue with the society, and diversifies the museum communication. Original forms of communication with visitors are appearing, the boundaries of the museum space are reaching other countries and continents. It is proved that the world trends in the development of the museum business are also spread in the national museum science. The emergence of museums in the open air and attempts to create multifunctional cultural complexes in Ukraine correspond to the objective process of museum development in the world. It is revealed that the irrefutable fact of positive changes in modern museum science is the revival of the museum patronage as a social phenomenon. The author has worked out the recommendations for the further development of the museum business in Ukraine which are related to the improvement of the regulatory framework in the museum industry; for creating All-Ukrainian Research Museum Research Center, the National Information and Communication Center for conducting computerization and automation of the museum exhibits accountancy, the all-Ukrainian museum mass media; for raising the prestige of the museum profession; for honouring the memory of Ukraine's museum devotees.