An employee of a local art gallery beat the odds in a stiff competition to earn a place with an international curator fellowship in London.

Jasmine Lee, who is the museum and gallery exhibitions officer at the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art, and a graduate of Warwick Academy, will join a cohort of 12 students who were selected from 500 applicants worldwide for the New Curators programme.

She will participate in the yearlong study aimed at aspiring curators from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and gain invaluable experience within the contemporary curatorial field.

The programme is led by Mark Godfrey, the former senior curator at the Tate Modern, and Kerryn Greenberg, the former curator of international art at the London gallery.

Both come with extensive experience in the arts.

They will deliver the core academic seminars and skills training sessions, which are supplemented with regular guest talks by a wide range of curators, artists, architects and other arts professionals.

Speaking of her selection, Ms Lee said: “I was in disbelief; it’s really an honour.

“Coming from a small place like Bermuda, there are not many curatorial opportunities. We can feel pigeon holed and left out, especially in the art world.

“We don't have an art fair or as much of a global reach but we do have artists who are an exception and we do create compelling shows.

“The art world can be difficult to get into, especially for the working class. Mark Godfrey and Kerryn Greenberg are committed to diversifying the industry to make it more equitable and accessible.

“It is exciting and I feel really energised to be able to go and learn from such pivotal people. I am going to come back to Bermuda but, as Covid showed us, the world is interconnected so I hope to help Bermuda artists get recognised outside of our shores.”

Ms Lee, who holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of British Columbia, starts the paid fellowship in September at the South London Gallery.

The programme aims to democratise curation in an industry that is often seen as elitist by providing fellowships to a more diverse applicant base.

She underwent a rigorous application process to earn her place, first responding to questions about her interest and skill level within curation.

She then had to write a formal application and undergo a 40-minute virtual interview.

Ms Lee said: “I have been with Masterworks almost four years. My job is to create and support the exhibitions here with a primary focus on the Rick Faries Gallery, working with local contemporary artists.

“I would describe myself as the curator for the Rick Faries Gallery, even though my role speaks more broadly to the museum.

“My other major project is the Charman Prize. I’m responsible for its administration, curation and execution.

“I am also an artist; the interest has always been there. I grew up doing art with schools like Kaleidoscope [Arts Foundation] and Masterworks, which helped shaped my interest.

“Later, I started to enjoy working with artists and bringing people together, creating a space for possibilities to learn and be challenged. My heart lies more in curation.”

Risa Hunter, the executive director at Masterworks, said: “I am delighted that Jasmine has been selected to participate in the prestigious New Curators fellowship programme overseas, offering her an incredible opportunity to expand her network and learn from leading experts in the curatorial field.

“This opportunity is a testament to Jasmine's dedication to developing as an arts professional and the board and I are extremely proud to support her as she represents not only Masterworks, but Bermuda on an international stage."