Museums and Heritage
Talks & Workshops
TV & Radio
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Hello! My name is Ben Paites and I am a Collections + Learning Curator at Colchester Museums. I have worked extensively within the museum sector for over a decade. My passion is for sharing the stories of unrepresented people within history. My skills and expertise have allowed me to work with schools, community groups, academics and even national media outlets such as the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 & Sky.
Past Appearances
Sharing some objects from Colchester Museums' collection with Bettany Hughes for 8 Days That Made Rome, 2017.
Giving a tour of Colchester Castle to Fern McCann on This Morning, 11 March 2020.
Talking about the Witch Trials at Colchester Castle on ITV News Anglia, 18 October 2023.
Experience & Insight
With a wealth of knowledge in different fields, I am able to offer my services in consultation, curation and presenting. My key areas of expertise are Roman History, British History, Archaeology, The Witch Trials, LGBTQ+ History & Mythology & Folklore.
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I have curated many exhibitions over 10 years working in the museum sector. From large scale exhibitions, such as "Wicked Spirits?" to single displays, including the Bodleian Bowl at Colchester Castle. This has been in partnership with single or multiple lending institutions, as well as working with the collections of Colchester Museums.
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I have worked with a range of media outlets, including TV and podcast productions, as well as being interviewed on radio for various local, national and international stations. This has included working with BBC radio Jersey, discussing Sheela-Na-Giggs, specifically talking about the example on display at Colchester Museums.
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I have given talks to a range of audiences, from academic specialists to non-specialists. This has been in person and online, including conferences and public talks run by museums and heritage organisations.
Exhibition Highlights
"Legacy" is a spotlight loan at Colchester Castle. Focusing on the Bodleian Bowl from the Ashmolean Museum on Oxford, I worked with the local Jewish community to gather photos, objects and stories to share alongside the display.
27 September 2024 to 27 January 2025
"Wicked Spirits? Witchcraft and Magic at Colchester Castle" was an exhibition in partnership with the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic in Boscastle, Cornwall. Looking at the various witchcraft acts in English history, the exhibition highlighted real stories of people accused of witchcraft across Essex from the 1500s to the 1800s.
16 July 2022 to 8 January 2023