Hubs as Innovative Element of Sociocultural Space

The purpose of the article is to studyhubs, their main functions, features, as well as to determine their place and role in the hierarchy of modern socio-cultural space. The research methodology is based on the application of an interdisciplinary approach to the problem and a set of the following methods: analytical, comparative, cultural, and structural-logical. Scientific novelty. The functioning of hubs was comprehensively analysed in the context of the latest trends in the socio-cultural sphere; types of cultural spaces are designed; the concepts of «creative», «youth», «social», «bibliohub» have been analysed. Legal documentation regulating the activities of individual cultural hubs has been reviewed; an analysis of the current state of implementation of hubs in domestic cultural practice has been carried out. Conclusions. As a result of the conducted research, it was established that with the wide use of the term «hub», there is no clear and unambiguous definition of this concept. Based on the opinion of researchers, modern experience can be characterised as a centre where communication and cooperation are concentrated, where various resources are concentrated, education and training occurs, experience is gained, new ideas are accumulated, the implementation of which requires the unification of like-minded people and intellectual development. The activity of innovation centres can be manifested both in real and virtual space. By location, the hub can be created: on the basis of free space; virtual, located online on special servers; combined, with a combination of features of real and virtual hubs. In the socio-cultural sphere, this term means «centre of activity», «event centre», or «meeting ground». Hubs are defined by their structure, set of services, direction of activity, and location. According to the criteria, the following types of hubs are distinguished in the field of culture: creative, youth, library, educational, and social hubs. In global practice, hubs are in demand and popular. As for Ukraine, their spread is only gaining momentum. In general, it can be argued that cultural spaces, hubs, and co-working spaces play an important social function and are centres of development and leisure that become part of people's everyday life. These centres are actively spreading and developing in domestic socio-cultural practice. 
Key words: hubs, creative hubs, library hubs, youth hubs, socio-cultural space, co-working spaces.