Emotional Burke bidding farewell to Remai Modern
‘Mixed feelings’ for gallery CEO after landing job in New Zealand
Gregory Burke is returning to his hometown of Auckland, New Zealand, to run a venerable art gallery, but he still has “very mixed feelings” about leaving Saskatoon.
After five years as the executive director and chief executive officer, first at the Mendel Art Gallery and then the new Remai Modern, Burke has accepted the position of director of the Auckland Art Gallery.
Burke steered Saskatoon’s gallery through the closing of the Mendel in mid-2015 through to the opening of Remai Modern in October of 2017.
The gallery enjoyed higher-than-expected attendance during its first full year and has received worldwide recognition.
“It’s been a very difficult time and still is quite an emotional time,” Burke said in an interview Wednesday. “I have enjoyed so much support from people here in Saskatoon.”
Burke said he informed the Remai Modern board last week about his decision. The director position at the Auckland Art Gallery, which opened for the first time in 1888, became vacant in September.
Burke said he happened to be in Auckland earlier this month and interviewed for the position.
“It came up very quickly, in fact,” he explained. “But I was approached by so many people saying we’d love you to come back.”
Burke, 61, worked as the director of the Govett-brewster Art Gallery in New Plymouth, New Zealand, for seven years before becoming director of the Power Plant in Toronto from 2005-11.
Burke said he’ll stay at Remai Modern until mid-march and will work with the board on a transition plan.
“That’s all going to be very difficult to leave, I would say, so it’s very mixed feelings, my decision,” Burke said.
When he left New Zealand 13 years ago, he had no plans to be gone so long.
Despite ongoing controversy over delays in the construction of Remai Modern and climbing costs, the gallery’s first year surpassed expectations for revenue and attendance.
The New York Times named Saskatoon one of the top places in the world to visit in 2018, largely because of the new gallery.
“I believe this is something that’s very particular to Saskatoon, that they could be so bold and do this,” Burke said.
A lot of other cities, bigger cities, haven’t got the courage to do that, I think. So I really applaud the people here in Saskatoon.”