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Glass plate photography was most commonly in use between the 1850s and 1920s as the clearest and easiest to copy form of photography at that time. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, colonial expansion across Asia resulted in extensive efforts to document local cultures and landscapes, traditions and places, including through photography produced on glass plates that would capture images of the land, its peoples and their customs for various purposes, including ethnographic research and archiving, as well as for international exhibitions and postcards.

While the photographic documentation had a specific purpose to serve colonial aims at that time, the contents of these collections are the memory of traditional cultures, objects and monuments, some of which are disappearing if not already lost. One example of how old glass plate photographs can be used to capture history are the royal photographic glass plate negatives collection of the former kingdom of Siam, now Thailand, digitized and  and . Preservation and access initiatives such as the example from Thailand help to safeguard and promote historical images to a wider audience.

However, large amounts of glass plate collections in Asia are deteriorating due to harsh climatic conditions and from lack of capacity and equipment for their physical preservation, digitization and accessibility. Some of the collections identified as being at risk are:

• Cambodia: approximately 3,150 glass plate negatives collection of the National Museum of Cambodia, located in Phnom Penh, which are archaeological ethnographic photographs, and 449 of which document Cambodian Royal Ballet, inscribed on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity List. While previous projects produced prints of the glass plate negatives in 1995, these prints are already deteriorating and therefore need to be digitized before the contents are lost.
• Indonesia: approximately 500 glass plate negatives collection from the Sonobudoyo Museum, located in Yogyakarta, documenting archaeological artefacts, ethnographic objects, Javanese dance performances and of traditional communities, originally taken by Dutch researchers or colonial authorities.
• Mongolia: approximately 10,000 glass plate negatives and positives from the General Archives Authority of Mongolia, which represent ethnographic documentation of Mongolian traditions.
• Viet Nam: approximately 23,400 glass plate negatives of archaeological and ethnographic documentation of Cambodia and Viet Nam, located at the Institute of Social Sciences Information, Viet Nam Academy of Social Sciences in Hanoi, many of which are copies handed over by the Ecole Française d’Extrême Orient (EFEO).

This proposed project aims to support these collections in developing sustainable solutions for the storage and archive management of these collections, as well as to digitize them for public access.

This project is relevant to donor priorities as it would be directly supporting documentary heritage that is at risk, with some items already severely damaged. The safeguarding and digitization of these late 19^th century-early 20^th century photographic collections before they are subject to further deterioration is essential so that these can be used for research and reference in ethnographic studies as documentation of intangible and tangible cultural heritage and, in the event of a disaster, the reconstruction of archaeological heritage, before they are completely lost.

The main objectives of this consultancy are to:

1. Deliver training workshops for institutions and custodians of glass plate negative historical collections in targeted Asian countries, including extended beneficiaries and partners;

Direct beneficiaries:

• Institutions and custodians of glass plate negative historical collections in five countries in Asia, including:
  • Institute of Social Sciences Information, Viet Nam Academy of Social Sciences, Viet Nam
  • National Museum of Cambodia
  • Sonobudoyo Museum, Yogyakarta Special Region’s Department of Culture, Indonesia
  • General Archives Authority, Mongolia
  • Save Myanmar Film, Myanmar

Extended beneficiaries:

• General public
• Scholars, researchers, students in archaeology, anthropology, history, languages and culture
• Other institutions and persons interested in early forms of photographic documentation and cultural heritage

Partners:

• Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific (MOWCAP)
• Museum national d’histoire naturelle / Centre de recherche sur la conservation
• Japanese experts network: This project will mobilize Japanese experts specializing in diverse areas, based on specific preservation actions.

2. Ensure the effectiveness of the training workshops.

Under the overall authority of the Regional Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok, the oversight of the Chief of Communication and Information Unit (CI), and in close collaboration with Programme Specialist, the contracted entity is expected to undertake the following assignments during the contract period:

3.1 Design and organize regional training workshops in Hanoi, Viet Nam on 28 July to 1 August 2025 for institutions and custodians of glass plate negative historical collections

• The training workshop will be in-person. The venue will be selected together by the contracted entity and UNESCO project team. The expected number of participants in the training workshop is approximately 16 to 20.
  • The assignments are outlined below:

1. National coordinator/expert liaison
2. Procurement of materials for the hands-on training activities, including field visit and ordering of samples for locally-available traditional materials
3. Logistic arrangement for two international experts (points of departure Paris, France; Tokyo, Japan), participants (3 from Phnom Penh, Cambodia; 3 from Yogyakarta, Indonesia; 3 from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia) and 4 national participants
4. The meeting venue and catering arrangement (mid-morning break, lunch and mid-afternoon break) for 20 participants. 

3.2 Conduct a self-evaluation of the effectiveness of the training workshop including the certified financial statement of all expenditures.

In line with UNESCO’s overall gender mainstreaming strategy, the contractor is expected to integrate a gender perspective in all activities and apply gender analysis and mainstreaming concepts wherever feasible.

The work shall be completed by 31 August 2025.

4.1   The self-evaluation report

4.2 Training workshops Workshop outcome report including training materials, photos, registration list of participants, evaluation surveys from the participants based on a template provided by UNESCO

4.3 A certified financial statement of all expenditures 

Mandatory:

• Must be a legally registered public organizations, universities, NGOs or companies.
  • Minimum 5 years of professional experience in digitization solutions, data processing, and cultural heritage preservation.
  • Proven experience of at least 3 reference projects in the field.
• Proficiency in training development, training implementation, and report writing.

Desirable:

• Previous experience with UN or other international organizations, governments, donors, and civil society institutions would be an advantage.
• Impeccable analytical, writing, communication, and organizational skills.

At minimum, expression of interest should include the following:

1. A technical proposal, including institution profile, relevant experiences, evidence/reference of previous similar works, proposed methodology/approach, proposed personnel and their CVs, and workplan. Must include at least three (3) references of projects in the field.

2. 2) A financial proposal (in local currency and USD), including a detailed breakdown of rates per day, per unit, etc.

The expression of interest must be received by email at ci.bgk(at)unesco.org  to the attention of the Chief, Communication and Information Unit, UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok, with Subject line: Proposal - Training on Preserving Glass Plate Negatives at Risk in Asia, no later than 4 July 2025, Bangkok time (GMT+7). Only complete applications submitted before the deadline will be considered.

Only short-listed institutions/organizations will be contacted.