Jim Butler
Festival Events Coordinator
My background is in museums and heritage learning and events, managing learning services for Leicester Museums, York Museums Trust and the Holocaust Centre North. In 2015, I organised and led all the University of Leicester’s public-facing activities for the reinterment of Richard III, including schools’ programmes, open days, and the Departure Ceremony, which was watched by a global audience of millions.
Although not a trained archaeologist, my passion for archaeology goes back to my childhood when my mum would take me into Leicester’s Jewry Wall Museum and Roman Bath site on our weekly trips into town to do the family food shop. Since then, I have been fascinated with archaeology and history, especially that of my hometown of Leicester. During the Covid lockdowns of 2020 I began a YouTube channel called Hidden Histories of Leicester, which explores the city’s over 2,000 year history through its rich archaeology and, in 2021, the channel was even shortlisted for a CBA Archaeological Achievement Award.
As well as developing and managing large-scale events, like the launch and finale of the Festival of Archaeology, I lead guided walks and cycle-rides of historic Leicester, work with community groups to help engage audiences with local history and heritage through exhibitions and events, and am the Honorary Secretary of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society.
I’m so excited to be working with the awesome CBA team on yet another Festival of Archaeology. As ever, the 2023 Festival is already getting jam-packed full of hands-on, engaging, fascinating and fun events for all ages! What’s even better is that it’s clear that event organisers have embraced this year’s theme of ‘Archaeology and Creativity’, which I think will really capture our diverse audiences’ imaginations. Hope to see you out and about at one of this year’s festival events in July!
- Email:
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