Gregory Burke resigns as Remai Modern CEO

The man who led the transition fromSaskatoon's Mendel Art Gallery to the Remai Modern Art Museumhas resigned.

Gregory Burke announced Wednesday he's accepted a job as director of Auckland Art Gallery in New Zealand.

"I'm leaving with very mixed feelings," he said. "I've very much enjoyed my time here. I feel that Saskatoon is home. But Aukland was where I was born and raised. It took me a bit by surprise but I have a lot of support there to go back."

Burke began as executive director and CEO of Mendel Art Gallery in 2013, before overseeing the construction of the $84.6-million Remai Modern Art Museum on Saskatoon's riverfront.

The new museum opened in October 2017 and saw more than 450,000 people go through its doors in its first year more than double the museum's initial projections.

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Burke said attending the museum's public opening was one of the happiest days of his life.

The city stated around the time of the opening that the museum's sponsorship and fundraisingtargets "will continue to be a challenge."

"Our donations are doing very well,"Burke said on Wednesday.

'It will need strong leadership'

Burke said RemaiModern has seen four staff members leave in the last year, not including him.

"[That's] out of a team of over 60 people," he said. "That is hardly beyond the norm."

Burke's last day at Remain Modern will be March 15, 2019.

"It will need strong leadership," said Burke when asked what the museum will need to remain successful. "And I think that it needs to continue to be bold and to be ambitious. Go big or go home."