Arts programs from throughout Ocean County will share in $75,868 worth of grant money provided by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

“This money is distributed to agencies that provide cultural and art programs in the County,” said Freeholder John C. Bartlett Jr., who serves as liaison to the Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commission. “This grant money also helps the county’s Cultural and Heritage Commission in providing programs and information.”

Twenty-six agencies will share in the grant money. The grants range from $500 to $8,000.

“Since its inception in 1969, the Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commis-sion has made a concerted effort to expand the scope of services and programs that it provides to both the arts and history constituencies in Ocean County,” said Cynthia Smith, program administrator. “In addition to funding from the Ocean County Board of Freeholders, the commission has successfully augmented local arts and history spending by applying for grants available through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the New Jersey Historical Commission.”

According to Smith, Ocean County is expected to receive a Local Arts Program grant totaling $106,000. Of that amount, $75,868 will be distributed to a host of agencies in the form of grants by the Ocean County Board of Freeholders.

“Culture and the arts are an important component to the quality of life in Ocean County,” Bartlett said. “This is a successful and beneficial program overseen by the county’s Cultural and Heritage Commission.”

Local agencies that will receive the grants and the amounts are: Alliance for a Living Ocean, $700; The Arc, Ocean County Chapter, $500; and Community Chorus of Ocean County College, $4,000.

Also, Jackson Township Recreation, $2,000; Lakewood Heritage Commission, $2,500; Ocean County Artists’ Guild, $8,000; Ocean County College Theatre Company, $7,500; Ocean County Historical Society, $2,800; Ocean County Library, $2,500; Plumsted Township Council on The Arts, $2,000; and Strand Ventures Inc., $5,000.

“These organizations provide a variety of arts programs that are available to both residents and visitors,” Bartlett said. “Many of the programs are offered free.”

Smith said the remaining $30,175 of the Local Arts Program grant awarded to the commission will support commission funded projects such as implementation of the Ocean County Cultural Plan: 2002-2007, sponsorship of the 26th annual Teen Arts Festival of Ocean County, outreach projects to Ocean County’s culturally diverse communities, technical assistance workshops and publication of brochures.