Case Study: Working with Volunteers to Address a Lack of Bengali Representation in Public Collections

What is this case study about?

This case study is about the 'Bengali Photography Archive' project by Four Corners, designed to capture and preserve the images and oral histories of the Bengali community in East London. The project tackled a lack of representation of the community within historical archives and provided the skills needed to ensure continued archival practice by the community itself.

Through this initiative, Four Corners demonstrated how co-creation can build a community-led archive and highlighted the importance of embedding skills training into heritage-based projects. This approach not only preserves cultural heritage but also empowers local communities to maintain control over their own narratives.

Four Corners is a registered charity with a 50-year history of radical, socially engaged work in photography and film. Their projects focus on inclusivity and the celebration of diverse stories.

The Bengali Photography Archive Project was funded through Historic England's Everyday Heritage Grant scheme, which supports local heritage projects nationwide.

What are the key points?

What was the project about?

The 'Bengali Photography Archive' was launched with the aim of creating a new, community-led collection of photographs, films, and oral histories.

A key issue identified by the organisation was that much of the photographic documentation of the Bengali community in East London since the 1970s had been produced by outsiders. This resulted in a narrow and often incomplete portrayal of the community. Despite Bengalis making up over 40% of the local population, there were very few publicly accessible photographs taken by members of the community themselves.

This project set out to address this imbalance by empowering the Bengali community to take charge of their own historical narrative.

The goals of the project were to:

• Engage with new audiences within and outside of the Bengali community
• Establish a new archive of images, films and oral histories celebrating everyday Bengali life in East London, created by and for Bengalis
• Offer upskilling opportunities such as photography, oral history interviewing and digital archiving to ensure the community has the tools to sustain the archive in the future
• Showcase a broader narrative of Bengali life, moving beyond the frequently documented themes of racism and violence in Tower Hamlets to focus on more nuanced and everyday experiences

Who did the project work with?

The project prioritised active community involvement and worked closely with a wide range of Bengali residents in East London.

Volunteer recruitment was carried out through Four Corners' website, social media platforms, and community outreach events. Flyers and promotional material were translated into Bengali to ensure accessibility for non-English speakers.

The project specifically sought out young and unemployed Tower Hamlets residents to foster engagement with their community's heritage while offering new skills development opportunities.

Training provided to volunteers included:

• Oral history techniques
• Photography
• Premiere Pro film editing
• Digitising and cataloguing images

To deepen their understanding of archival work, project volunteers visited local archives, with guidance from archive specialists Tamsin Bookey (Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archive) and Stefan Dickers (Bishopsgate Institute). There were also opportunities for participants to attend archive events and partake in their own project research related to interviews.

A project steering group composed of volunteers, members of the London-based Bengali community group Swadhinata Trust, and Four Corners all played an active role in overseeing the project. Together, they evaluated its progress and shaped its direction. Volunteers were integral to the project's success, and their input helped identify opportunities and challenges throughout.

What were the outcomes?

The Bengali Photography Archive Project surpassed expectations in multiple ways. Originally aiming to collect 500 photographs, the project ended up archiving over 4,500 images and collecting 18 new oral histories.

This excellent response reflected the community's recognition of the importance of preserving their own heritage. Volunteers contributed to the archive's creation and benefited from the experience by acquiring new skills and gaining confidence through the training provided.

Public access to this archive was also significantly enhanced, with the materials now available to future generations for both research and personal use.

One particularly notable outcome was that one of the project's volunteers secured individual funding from the Arts Council, which enabled them to dedicate more time to the project and its legacy.

What were the challenges?

One of the main challenges that Four Corners could have faced at the start of the project was being perceived as an 'outsider' organisation. This potential barrier to building trust within the community was helped by working in partnership with the Swadhinata Trust.

Additionally, the language and technical terms around archiving were somewhat alienating to people unfamiliar with the process.

Overcoming these challenges required sustained community outreach and thoughtful, culturally sensitive approaches to language and communication.

What lessons were learned?

• Finding creative ways to connect with your target groups is key. Visibility at local hubs such as food banks, festivals, and schools can help build trust and engagement with community donors
• Collaborating with trusted groups that are already embedded in your target community can lead to more organic and meaningful interactions
• Ensure that promotional materials are available in multiple languages to make your project more inclusive
• Providing volunteers with a comprehensive role and a voice in the project's development helps foster a sense of ownership and ensures that the project reflects community priorities.
• Establishing clear copyright and ownership policies early on can help avoid potential disputes for projects involving intellectual property

Further reading

The Bengali Photography Archive project website

Historic England’s resource on examining and challenging existing perceptions of heritage