INDEPENDENT curator and writer, Simon Morrissey, has been selected to complete a year-long fellowship at the Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle.

The fellowship, funded by Northern Arts, will lead to the development of an exhibition of contemporary art in different media, taking the context and collections of the museum as its starting point. It will aim to generate new audiences for the Bowes as well as providing existing audiences with an opportunity to re-examine the museum.

Mr Morrissey, 31, who gained the fellowship over 250 rivals, has worked with contemporary visual arts for eight years, working for five years specifically within the galleries sector - at Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, and Matt's Gallery, London - before embarking on a freelance career in 1999.

Since then he has developed a particular interest in combining thematic and site-specific concerns in his exhibitions and has organised shows nationally and internationally, working with emerging and high profile artists.

Alessandro Vincentelli, visual arts officer for Northern Arts, said: "Morrissey is a curator with considerable flair and energy who was selected for his unique and engaging approach and for his track record of working with some of the leading lights in current contemporary art in Britain."