MILAN (AP) — The new British-Canadian director of Milan’s Brera Art Gallery pledges to complete a 50-year-old plan to create a new gallery across the street for contemporary art.

James Bradburne on Thursday said his plans to revitalize the Brera include a commitment to move the museum’s contemporary art collection to the Palazzo Citterio by the end of 2018.

Bradburne pledged not “to be the last in a long list” of directors to fall short of the task. He said restoration work is underway and that he has several years to raise some 1 million euros ($1.1 million) to 3 million euros to install the 120-180 works.

Bradburne, 60, is among 20 new directors of Italy’s top museums, including seven foreigners, hired last year by the Culture Ministry following an international bidding process.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.