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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.”

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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 to 2011.

He said the job offer can be attributed to his efforts to put New Zealand art on the map. Burke said he will 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 as long as he was, he said.

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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, built at a prime River Landing location.

“I believe that this is something that is very particular to Saskatoon, that they could be so bold and do this,” Burke said. “A lot of other cities, bigger cities, have not got the courage to do that, I think. So I really applaud the people here in Saskatoon.”

Burke has this advice for his successor: “Be bold, be ambitious and have a strong artistic vision.”

ptank@postmedia.com

twitter.com/thinktankSK