CHALLENGES IN THE FUNCTIONING OF OPEN-AIR MUSEUMS IN EUROPE: IMPLICATIONS FOR UKRAINE

Abstract

The article examines the main challenges affecting the functioning of open-air museums in European countries and identifies possibilities for applying relevant experience in Ukraine. The relevance of the study is determined by the growing importance of cultural heritage preservation, the transformation of museums into multifunctional socio-cultural institutions, and the need to modernize Ukrainian open-air museums under conditions of limited funding, digital transformation, and contemporary social challenges. Open-air museums today function not only as institutions for preserving traditional architecture and ethnographic collections, but also as educational, tourist, and communication platforms that contribute to regional development and cultural identity preservation. The purpose of the study is to identify the key problems influencing the activities of European open-air museums and to generalize practical approaches that can be adapted to the Ukrainian context. The methodological basis of the research includes analysis, synthesis, comparison, generalization, and a systematic approach. These methods made it possible to compare European and Ukrainian museum practices and determine effective directions for improving museum activities. The study demonstrates that the functioning of open-air museums is influenced by financial, organizational, technological, and social factors. The main challenges include the high cost of maintaining historical wooden structures, seasonal tourist flows, insufficient digitalization, lack of qualified specialists, and limited cooperation with local communities. The analysis shows that European museums address these issues through preventive conservation, diversified funding, interactive programs, digital technologies, and community involvement. The practical value of the article lies in identifying перспективних напрямів модернізації українських музеїв просто неба. The proposed approaches may be used to improve museum management, strengthen cultural tourism, expand digital services, and ensure more effective preservation of cultural heritage.