Audiovisual Heritage in Focus: Strengthening Exhibition Capacities at Choeung Ek Genocidal Center

"Audiovisual heritage is a vital record of history - a keeper of collective memory, and a foundation of dialogue between cultures. It can capture the unfolding of human thought and events, the evolution of languages, cultures and peoples. Through these records, we are able to observe moments we never experienced, hear sounds from distant times and explore places that have long since vanished" Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General

An image is worth a thousand words. The World Day for Audiovisual Heritage, observed annually on 27 October, was established by UNESCO to raise awareness of the importance and vulnerability of audiovisual documents. These materials-films, sound recordings, and moving images-are essential to preserving cultural memory and enriching public understanding of history. The day commemorates the adoption of the 1980 Recommendation for the Safeguarding and Preservation of Moving Images and serves as a platform to reflect on the implementation of the 2015 Recommendation Concerning the Preservation of, and Access to, Documentary Heritage, Including in Digital Form.

In Cambodia, the Peace Education, Archives Preservation and Digitization, and Site Conservation for Youth Empowerment (PEACE) Project, jointly implemented by UNESCO, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts (MoCFA), and the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (TSGM) with financial support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), contributes to the preservation and presentation of documentary heritage at the Cambodian Memorial Sites , which were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2025. While the first phase of the project focused on preserving paper-based archives, the second phase also supports the enhancement of exhibition infrastructure at the Cambodian Memorial Sites, enabling meaningful engagement with each site's narrative.

A notable example is the upgrade of audiovisual facilities at the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center, completed in June 2025. The improvements included the installation of a high-resolution LED screen, a modern sound system, and the renovation of the video room to improve acoustics, seating, and accessibility. These enhancements were designed to support the presentation of archival footage in a respectful and immersive setting, contributing to the site's role as a space for reflection and learning.

Archival films, video, and sound recordings not only preserve cultural heritage, but they also enrich the experience of visitors in museums in a unique way. The PEACE Project plays a crucial role in improving the conditions under which such materials are accessed and experienced. The upgraded audiovisual facilities at Choeung Ek now allow for more effective integration of audiovisual content into educational programming and visitor engagement.