HE spent years sending people to prison to have the doors locked behind them, but now Howard Nathan is offering many a prison experience of a different kind.
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With a gift of $300,000 to the Ulumbarra Theatre, the former Victorian Supreme Court judge is making it possible for people to go through the jail doors with a purpose other than criminal punishment.
Mr Nathan has long supported the Bendigo Art Gallery and said this was an opportunity to extend his passion for artistic expression.
"The delicious irony is that I once sent criminal customers from the court to this jail and now I am helping it to be reborn as a theatre, with only unconvicted criminals as customers," he said.
"The refurbishment is spectacular and imaginative.
"I am especially glad they removed most of the graffiti from the cell walls, particularly the illustrations and comments about me."
Mr Nathan said the theatre would add another artistic element to Bendigo.
"Shows that are bumped in (at city theatres) will be bumped in here. This will become a try out space for the big city productions," he said.
A former amateur dancer, Mr Nathan is looking forward to an improved space for ballet and dance.
"One of the problems with our other theatre if we had ballet or dance is that the performers couldn't get a big enough run to complete a leap," he said.
"You had these mini steps so instead of a soaring body they are short leaps."
Mr Nathan said the donation was representative of his adoration for the arts and what it offered to the community.
"It's better to give with a live hand than a dead one. It is my life's ambition to die destitute," he said.
It's better to give with a live hand than a dead one.
- Howard Nathan
"I want to give (my money) away while I am still able and I can't think of a better way to spend the judicial pension than to donate it back to the people of Victoria."
The City of Greater Bendigo director of city futures Stan Liacos said Mr Nathan's donation and other sponsors helped the funding project reach $500,000.
"We have had a whole range of very generous people buying at $500 a seat," Mr Liacos said.
"These donations will ensure this theatre is sparkling on opening night."
Mr Liacos said Mr Nathan's donation was extraordinary.
"Philanthropic donations of that scale are rare even in Melbourne so in Bendigo it is even (more amazing)," he said.
"We will name a prominent part of the development after him.
"We have been inspired by Mr Nathan who wants to give privately on the back of this theatre being a major asset for the education sector."
