Palaces and houses of culture

Palaces and houses of culture. Cultural centers located throughout the former USSR and Ukraine. In big cities and commercial centers they are funded and administered mostly by enterprises and trade unions; in rural areas they are operated by the government. The palaces and buildings of culture house various group activities, such as sports and games, recreational activities, and courses of instruction for professional qualification. They also host lessons, lectures, theatrical productions, concerts, film screenings, exhibitions of amateur art, and receptions in honor of political and cultural figures. Most have libraries, reading rooms, and laboratories. Some are intended for use by specific groups, such as scholars, teachers, writers, or railway workers. The first palaces and houses of culture in Ukraine were built in the 1920s.