ETHNOCULTURAL TRADITION AS A MECHANISM OF SOLIDARITY OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES (on the example of the implementation of the “Cultural Mosaic of Udmurtia” program)

This article examines the role of local communities in cultural development, focusing on the “Cultural Mosaic” program of the Elena and Gennadiy Timchenko’s Charitable Foundation. It analyzes the program’s implementation in Udmurtia (2020–2022), which aimed to develop small territories by creating cultural environments shaped by local communities. The research draws on the concept of sociocultural mechanisms, such as traditions, historical memory and “shared spaces”, which influence the formation and sustainability of communities. Particular attention is paid to projects based on ethnic traditions. Tradition is becoming the binding mechanism that fosters community resilience in the sociocultural turbulence that has become a universal human trend. As the research demonstrates, projects grounded in tradition are more resistant to change, and ethnically-based communities exhibit greater solidarity.