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Even Gregory Burke, the man tasked with making the Remai Modern a success, is surprised by the extent the art gallery exceeded its goals and expectations in its first year.

The once-controversial project, which marks a year of operation on Sunday, attracted more than double the visitors it expected, hosting 453,176 when 190,000 were anticipated.

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The new Saskatoon attraction beat its revenue goals for admissions and memberships in its first year, erasing fears that gallery officials could ask city council for more money.

Burke, Remai Modern’s executive director and CEO, said in an interview this week that the gallery had set ambitious goals for its opening year, which happened more than two years after the closure of its predecessor, the beloved Mendel Art Gallery.

“I think the figures in the business plan were ambitious,” Burke said. “They were a stretch. They certainly were a stretch from the Mendel.”