Cultural Ecology and Geographic Space in Co- construction: How Does Spatial Agglomeration of Museum Resources Emerge? —— An Empirical Study of Hubei Province

The spatial configuration of museums reflects the complex interplay between regional historical accumulation, socio-economic development, and policy orientation. Focusing on 234 registered museums in Hubei Province, this study integrates GIS spatial analysis with fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) to investigate the mechanisms underlying museum agglomeration. Nearest neighbor index and kernel density estimation reveal a significantly clustered distribution (R = 0.642, P < 0.05), characterized by a "dense east, sparse west" pattern with Wuhan as the primary core. Using per capita GDP, permanent population, urbanization rate, tourist visits, and highway passenger volume as conditions, fsQCA identifies three equifinal pathways to high museum density: Industrial Heritage Cultural (~ X1·X2·X3·~X4·X5), County Tourism-Rural Symbiosis (~ X1·X2·~X3·X4·X5), and Regional Integration Core (X1·X2·X3·X4·X5), with 76.2% coverage. High permanent population is necessary for high agglomeration (consistency 0.932), while low highway passenger volume is necessary for low agglomeration (consistency 0.951). These core conditions demonstrate museum agglomeration depends on dual "locality" and "mobility" thresholds. This research challenges economic determinism, revises central place theory, and proposes "cultural agglomeration countering urbanization," offering theoretical support for underdeveloped regions pursuing cultural development through industrial heritage revitalization or tourism-rural symbiosis. A differentiated "identification-positioning-implementation" policy toolkit provides decision-making references for regional cultural resource allocation and sustainable museum cluster development.