The West Virginia Division of Culture and History has announced nearly $750,000 in capital grants to arts groups this year, more than double the amount it gave out last year.

The grants ranged from roughly $14,000 to buy new sound equipment for the Liz Spurlock Amphitheatre (home of "The Aracoma Story") at Chief Logan State Park in Logan to $240,000 to build an amphitheater in Clarksburg. Some projects received their fourth capital grant and some their first.

The state has given out $11.9 million in lottery money to arts groups over the past eight years, since the program came into being. The grants peaked three years ago at $3.1 million, before slipping to $1.3 million the next year and then $320,000 last year.

The decline occurred after the Legislature put a cap on a pool that lawmakers decided was growing too rapidly. In the aftermath, Richard Ressmeyer, who was in charge of arts programs, lost an argument with his bosses over how much of the unspent money should remain in the capital grants pool, and then lost his job too.

"These grants not only create new arts institutions, but help sustain old buildings that are sometimes 50 or 100 years old," said Jeff Pierson, who replaced Ressmeyer as Culture and History's director of arts. "Without these programs, the buildings deteriorate. We would lose these buildings, which are often historic treasures."

To contact staff writer Bob Schwarz, use e-mail or call 348-1249.

Here is the complete list of capital grants:

Randolph County Community Arts Center: $20,000 for ongoing renovations to an old church in Elkins that has become a visual arts exhibit space, education center and performance space. The project has received $175,000 in four capital grants from the state.

Strand Theatre Preservation Society, Moundsville: $103,388 for continued renovations to transform an old movie theater into a performance space that is now open. This grant pays for electrical, lighting and heating and air-conditioning improvements. This is the project's fourth capital grant, and the total to date is now $460,000.

The West Virginia Division of Culture and History has announced nearly $750,000 in capital grants to arts groups this year, more than double the amount it gave out last year.

The grants ranged from roughly $14,000 to buy new sound equipment for the Liz Spurlock Amphitheatre (home of "The Aracoma Story") at Chief Logan State Park in Logan to $240,000 to build an amphitheater in Clarksburg. Some projects received their fourth capital grant and some their first.

The state has given out $11.9 million in lottery money to arts groups over the past eight years, since the program came into being. The grants peaked three years ago at $3.1 million, before slipping to $1.3 million the next year and then $320,000 last year.

The decline occurred after the Legislature put a cap on a pool that lawmakers decided was growing too rapidly. In the aftermath, Richard Ressmeyer, who was in charge of arts programs, lost an argument with his bosses over how much of the unspent money should remain in the capital grants pool, and then lost his job too.

"These grants not only create new arts institutions, but help sustain old buildings that are sometimes 50 or 100 years old," said Jeff Pierson, who replaced Ressmeyer as Culture and History's director of arts. "Without these programs, the buildings deteriorate. We would lose these buildings, which are often historic treasures."

To contact staff writer Bob Schwarz, use e-mail or call 348-1249.

Here is the complete list of capital grants:

Randolph County Community Arts Center: $20,000 for ongoing renovations to an old church in Elkins that has become a visual arts exhibit space, education center and performance space. The project has received $175,000 in four capital grants from the state.

Strand Theatre Preservation Society, Moundsville: $103,388 for continued renovations to transform an old movie theater into a performance space that is now open. This grant pays for electrical, lighting and heating and air-conditioning improvements. This is the project's fourth capital grant, and the total to date is now $460,000.

Strand Theatre Preservation Society, Moundsville: $6,500, emergency funding to improve accessibility.

City of Clarksburg Board of Park Commissioners: $240,340 to help build a new amphitheater in Veterans Memorial Park.

The Beckley Art Group Inc: $50,000 to build a new visual arts exhibition space with classrooms.

Grant County Public Library: $125,000 to create an arts center with theater, exhibit space and classrooms in a new building adjacent to the library. The building, which has received four grants totaling $625,000, is open and partially operating.

Charles Mathena II Foundation, Princeton: $75,000 to build a $10 million, 1,000-seat performing arts center that will soon open. The project received a $500,000 grant in 2005.

Wood County schools: $63,100 to replace 30-year-old seats and upgrade lighting in the Blennerhassett School auditorium.

Oglebay Institute: $38,588 to renovate the visual arts exhibit space and a classroom at the Stifel Fine Arts Center in Wheeling, and to build a new access ramp in the rear of the building.

The Aracoma Story Inc.: $14,422 to put in new sound equipment at the outdoor theater in Chief Logan State Park.

WV Museum of American Glass, Weston: $9,000, emergency funding to improve accessibility.