«Том Сойер Фест» В Вологде: опыт участия горожан в сохранении исторического облика города

Abstract

Vologda is a Russian city where wooden architecture, forming a unique urban and historical environment, is still preserved. Over time, however, the wooden houses are being destroyed and the preservation of wooden architecture is becoming a serious issue. In such conditions a “city defenders” movement as a public initiative has appeared and continues to develop in the town. One of the projects of the urban activists is the Tom Sawyer Fest. Its participants, on a voluntary basis, restore old wooden houses of historical value. The project, originating in Samara, quickly spread to a large number of other Russian cities and has begun to attract an increasing number of participants. The Vologda case is unique in the list of the participants and in the choice of houses. The authors posed the following research questions: while the government usually deals with the issues of the urban environment in general and historical heritage preservation in particular, why is urban activism appearing and gaining popularity now? Why are people ready to spend their free time, energy and sometimes money to restore wooden houses, although it is believed that this should be done by the government? Why has this movement become so popular and important for the participants? What role does the festival play in the life of its participants? To answer these questions the authors conducted 11 interviews with the participants and organizers of the festival. The theoretical framework of the research is the concept of “the third place” of Oldenburg, an American sociologist. Tom Sawyer Fest, namely the festival site or the house being restored, is considered as a “portable third place”, where a special warm, friendly, and comfortable atmosphere contributing to the growth of social capital of the festival participants is created, leading to the formation of an urban community.