The article shows the ways of how commemorative practices influence the processes of developing a dialogue between different cultures. International cultural dialogue does not only contributes to the development of mutual understanding between different nations. It also gives them the opportunity for a deeper understanding of their national identity, being a way of realization of the principle of open cultural space.Considering the phenomenon of memorial plaques to be the most democratic and flexible practice of commemoration, the authors are examining the topic using different examples of memorial plaques set on the territory of Russia in memory of prominent cultural figures - citizens of foreign states. The analyzed sample includes more than 120 memorial plaques and memorial signs installed in various regions from the end of the 19th to the beginning of the 21st centuries. However, whereas during the Soviet period of our history memorable signs in the USSR often depicted cultural figures whose names were closely associated with the social revolutionary discourse, nowadays it is their general humanitarian significance that comes to the fore. An important criterion for installing a memorial plaque is the role of a foreign cultural figure in the formation of the national identity of our own citizens.