Abstract: The object of the research is the regional art environment. The subject of the research is the role of art practices in the development of the art environment. Special attention is paid to special features of the art environment as an element of the sociocultural environment as well as their role in the creation of artists’ self-assemblies and art initiatives. The author describes two kinds of the art environment, internal and external, and examines stages in the development of the art community as well as studies the factors, which influence leads to the transformation of the art environment from being incapable of reproduction and development to a reproducing ‘alive’ community. The main research method is the analysis of the development experience of both state and private institutions that deal with contemporary art in Russian regions. The result of the research is the conclusion that the motive why today’s artists living in regions tend to create regional self-assemblies is the search for likeminded people, desire to communicate within the framework of the general discourse and develop a dynamic art environment. The novelty of the research is the analysis of the regional art environment as the basis for creation of artists’ self-assemblies.