The article is dedicated to the problem of forming socio-cultural competence of pupils of of primary school in the process of learning artistic culture as well as to one of the criteria of its multicomponent structure – sign-symbolic interpretation of a literature work of art. In the article special attention is paid to the criticism of the competency approach in education, the necessity in specifying and limiting its theoretical highlighting based on the specifics of the subjects of the educational cycle. The assumption is offered that it’s the peculiarity of every subject area that will allow to single out its advantages in forming certain competences. One of the key competences of a modern pupil is being observed, socio-cultural in particular. Its integrative character and cross-subject qualities in scientific approaches are emphasised. This reflects the complexity of the phenomenon. As one of the most important for this competence artistic culture and art are considered. Due to peculiarities of artistic expression as symbolization of a human being spiritual world artistic culture and art influence both social and value-sensational statements of a teenager.