Review - Arts Funding For The Famous?

In today's New York Post, Michael Riedel is critical of the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust for granting a $200,000 prize for the purpose of nurturing American Playwrights to Tony Kushner instead of to a deserving unknown. Earlier this year the Ed Kleban Award for most promising musical theatre lyricist ($100,000) went to David Lindsay-Abaire for his work in the upcoming Shrek.

How do you feel about well established writers who make a living through their art being granted cash awards that might otherwise go to talented unknowns who could use the money to spend less time at their day jobs and more time to writing? Let us know in our new poll.