Arts and culture opportunities in Monmouth and Ocean counties will be that much richer in the wake of $2,000 grant from The Provident Bank Foundation.

The grant will go toward operating expenses for the Algonquin Arts group, which was founded to promote a wide array of programming in film, theater, dance and visual arts.

Events by renowned professional and touring companies are held at the 540-seat Algonquin Arts Theatre in Manasquan, which opened in 1994 following an extensive renovation. The arts organization also sponsors educational programs in the arts for students from the two-county area.

Algonquin Arts development coordinator Allison Chellin said the grant is much appreciated, especially during a tough economy.

“Provident has been very supportive of our programs, helping defray costs not only for artist and production fees, but also for tickets for students from districts that wouldn’t otherwise have been able to afford class trips,” Ms. Chellin said of the group’s outreach, which includes five visits per year from Head Start centers in Asbury Park and Neptune. “This is fantastic.”

The Provident Bank Foundation has awarded grants every year since 2006 to Algonquin Arts, based on the strength of the organization’s programming and its value to area residents, according to Kendall Warsaw, the foundation’s executive director.

“The theater and the groups it hosts are invaluable in their contribution to the cultural enrichment of the shore region,” Ms. Warsaw said. “We’re thrilled to be a part of making that happen.”

The Provident Bank Foundation was established by New Jersey’s oldest bank in 2003 to enhance the quality of life in New Jersey through support of not-for-profit groups, institutions, schools and other organizations that provide services in communities served by The Provident Bank. Since its founding, the foundation has provided more than $12 million in grants for programs focusing on education, health, wellness, recreation, the arts and social and civic services.