Microbial deterioration of cultural heritage materials can cause physical and chemical damage which then extends to aesthetic alterations and a loss of heritage value. The inorganic and organic components in paintings are easily biodegradable and can be used as substrates for a wide range of microbial species. Specific microbial communities can develop depending on the environmental conditions of the site and the capacity of the substratum to provide different ecological conditions [1]. The climates of Southeast Asia consist of high humidity and temperature, which is favourable for microbial growth. The complications related to biodeterioration can only be prevented or treated if a thorough understanding of microbial communities is investigated. The knowledge and practice of paintings in the Southeast Asian region have come into the spotlight in recent periods with the growth of cultural industries and collections. However, most of the research in this field has been conducted within the temperate conditions of Europe with less focus on tropical climates. As such this study will use non-destructive sampling together with next-generation sequencing (NGS) analyses (metabarcoding) to determine the taxonomic composition of the microbial communities obtained from painting collections. A standard methodology is to combine analytical methods with molecular examinations. The bacterial and fungal communities will be characterised through metabarcoding analyses of 16S rRNA genes (bacteria) and the internal transcribed spacer between the small-subunit rRNA and large-subunit rRNA genes (ITS for fungi) [2] while physio-chemical analyses of the paintings will be done using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attenuated total reflectance - Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Sampling will be conducted through collaborative platforms located in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Darwin on various painting supports and media. It is our intention to investigate and build an understanding of the vulnerabilities of paintings to biodeterioration from which targeted approaches to the long-term care and treatment of heritage assets in tropical climates can be developed.