Bath Comedy Festival has received a grant from the Arts Council to help it grow.

A partnership formed between Bath Comedy Festival and official tourism organisation VisitBath has been given £15,000 by Arts Council England's Grants For The Arts scheme to help create a sustainable marketing strategy that will enable the comedy festival to considerably increase its profile, reach much wider audiences and thus become a major annual fixture on the city's cultural calendar.

Bath International Comedy Festival, which will be in its ninth year when it returns in April 2017, has entered a creative partnership with the city's official tourism body in order to expand the event, appealing to residents and visitors alike.

Planning is already under way for the 2017 festival. Banners and street decorations will create a festival atmosphere, further enhanced by an on-street ticket booth in a key location. The festival's programme will be redesigned, the website updated and the possibility of a festival app "will all ensure everybody knows the festival is taking place".

The grant will also secure the future of the Kids' Comedy Festival, a growing part of the festival's programme which has hitherto been run on an ad-hoc volunteer basis.

Nick Steel, the Director of Bath Comedy Festival, says: "Together, this grant and our newly formed partnership with VisitBath will ensure a vibrant future for the festival, declared by comic Arthur Smith to be 'The best comedy festival in England'. We aim to make it a festival for everyone and are thrilled to be working alongside VisitBath to achieve this goal. The grant is likely unlock further funding and the enhanced profile will create exciting opportunities for business sponsorship."

Ralph Oswick, the Associate Director of Special Events, adds: "The Comedy Festival upholds a long tradition of Bath humour, from 18th century satirical cartoons, through writers like Jane Austen, the subversive 70s Bath Arts Workshop to today's renowned Natural Theatre. Set against the best prop in the world, our beautiful city and its heritage offerings, it provides an ever growing and fresh approach to Bath as a Festival City. With VisitBath on board, the possibilities are endless!"

Leslie Redwood, the Head of Business Development at VisitBath, comments: "Bath Comedy Festival is a gem. It is one of the most amazingly successful and well-curated UK events. It brings people together, increases footfall and dwell time and adds vibrancy to the city. VisitBath has formed a genuine partnership with Bath Comedy Festival and wholeheartedly supports this effort to develop the festival to its full potential for the benefit of the city, region and the millions of visitors."

Bath Comedy Festival 2017 will run from Friday 1st April to Sunday 17th April. To find out more visit bathcomedy.com