Project Activity as a Form of Social Activity of Modern Museums

The purpose of the article is to consider museum as an important resource for investment in the future of society and to analyze project activity as a form of social activity of modern museums as a means of constructing cultural, communicative and educational space in the context of transformation and modification of museum activity. The research methodology was based on the general scientific principle of objectivity, culturological, structural-functional and analytical methods in the course of analysis of theoretical works on museology, cultural and educational work of museums, the subject field of which relates to project activity. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the first attempt in scientific literature to collect and analyze the facts concerning the influence of new forms of social activity of museum on the realization of its basic functions (conservation, research work, popularization). Conclusions. It was established that the theoretical basis for the development of social activity of modern museums rests upon the provisions of the «New Museology». It was proved that at the present stage museums act as intermediaries in solving complex social problems and conflicts; projects, as an effective form of implementing social activity of museums, contribute to the adaptation of museums and the museum industry as a whole to modern conditions of socio-economic and cultural life, support and promotion of the best examples of creative museum practices in Ukraine, identification, comprehension and wide representation of historical and cultural heritage, the expansion of partnership links between museums and the introduction of new tools and technologies