CABN Scottish Borders

CABN Scottish Borders Developing the professional creative sector in the Scottish Borders CABN works in partnership with a range of local and national organisations.

Creative Arts Business Network (CABN) is an informal network which supports the creative arts sector in the Scottish Borders. CABN supports creative individuals and organisations working in the fields of:

Visual Arts, Crafts, Literature, Film, Music and Performing Arts (dance, drama)

CABN is available for advice and support - over the phone, by e-mail and face to face. CABN delivers specialised

training and support through a bespoke event programme, develops opportunities including residencies, creative labs and showcases. The CABN Transition phase (Nov 2022-Nov 2023) is supported through funding from the Scottish Borders Place Partnership, (Creative Scotland & Scottish Borders Council) and SoSE(South of Scotland Enterprise).

Earlier this year CABN ran the second round of Small Grants Funds. Jane, CABN’s Engagement Catalyst, has been catching u...
02/09/2026

Earlier this year CABN ran the second round of Small Grants Funds. Jane, CABN’s Engagement Catalyst, has been catching up with the recipients to see how they got on. This week we hear from Stina Tweeddale, a Scottish songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist based in the Borders.

Stina spent three days dedicated to crafting new ideas that led to 4 songs being chosen and taken into the studio. These ideas were then worked on collaboratively with the engineer and session musicians to take them to the next stage which will lead to the final productions at a future date.

Stina said, “I am so thankful for the opportunity to do this work. After intensely creating an album, I felt directionless and very stuck in old creative paths. The opportunity to purely dedicate days to exploration has meant I was able to discover where I want to go next in my creative practise and for that I am incredibly grateful!”

Head to our website to read more about the recipients and how they got on.

Congratulations on the nomination Craig Aitchison!
01/09/2026

Congratulations on the nomination Craig Aitchison!

We are now recruiting for Advocates to join CABN. This is a paid opportunity.CABN covers a range of artforms and the key...
31/08/2026

We are now recruiting for Advocates to join CABN. This is a paid opportunity.

CABN covers a range of artforms and the key to understanding the different sectors, designing and delivering relevant support is through the work of the Advocates. The Advocates are experienced and respected practitioners in their field, and their input is invaluable to the work we do. CABN Advocates host events, advise on project development, and are available for 1:1 Advice Sessions. Advocates work with us on a freelance basis. Advocates can gain mentoring experience, training and income through working with CABN.

With the wellbeing of both participants in mind, we require all advocates to complete induction and structured training.

Creatives accepted into our programme will enter our ‘as and when’ talent pool ready to be matched with a request for support.

Building on the artforms currently covered we are inviting applications from everyone who meets our criteria:

Over 5 years’ experience in your art form.

Resident or working in the Scottish Borders.

Member of CABN (Membership is paused until September 3 2026, please sign up after this date).

Link to recruitment pack:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sb0125bcK4CgBUupd6-RzbUZFiC4CES1/view
Link to application form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfY8uAbwwhQm_PvwZvIpqmjD8Ox9EDgT1en5lMAvNn8MJ5fvA/viewform

Applications close on 30 September.

Creative Futures: September 10 Borders CollegePay want you can/lunch included.Are you considering a career in the Arts?...
30/08/2026

Creative Futures: September 10 Borders College
Pay want you can/lunch included.

Are you considering a career in the Arts? Are you returning to an Arts practice? Do you work with people who are looking to pursue creative careers?

This session explores how we live sustainably as artists.
How can we all play our part in being inclusive and building better for tomorrows creatives.
It is designed for:
Individuals who want to discuss or discover how careers can be supported and/or organisations who employ artists.
We are particularly keen for early career artists and students to attend.
The day blends practical insights, case studies, and reflective discussion.
Booking link in comments

Go see our fabulous CABN Advocate, Kerri Andrews!
28/08/2026

Go see our fabulous CABN Advocate, Kerri Andrews!

The CABN Guide[Image, sleeping boy Constantin, 2026 ; Aleksandra Zawada. On show at Burnside Gallery, Selkirk from 2 Sep...
28/08/2026

The CABN Guide

[Image, sleeping boy Constantin, 2026 ; Aleksandra Zawada. On show at Burnside Gallery, Selkirk from 2 September.]

What's happening this week across the Borders?

🟢Saturday 29:

- Exhibition opening, Paper & Page, Waterfall Gallery, Hawick Museum.

- Concert, No Borders Trio, St Peter's Church, Peebles. Tickets on door or from Eastgate Theatre.

- Exhibition opening, Land and Bloom, Halliwell’s House Museum & Gallery, Selkirk.

- Performance, Inwards, Outwards & Earthwards, An eco performance for 7-10 year olds and their families at the Eastgate Theatre, 11 - 2.

-Exhibition, last chance to see: Andrew Mackenzie, Ground Lines at & Gallery, Edinburgh and meet the artist 11 - 1.

-Exhibition, Art at Paxton, Ballroom and Garden at Paxton House, 10 - 4.

-Beyond Borders Festival at Traquair House, arts, literature and politics until Sunday 30.

⭐Sunday 30
- Beyond Borders Festival at Traquair House.

📣Monday 31
-New edition of the CABN e-bulletin!

🔵Tuesday 1
-Song Lyrics as Writing Prompts, Coffee Bar, Abbey Row Community Centre, Kelso. 2.30 pm - 4.15 pm, 1 September. Contact [email protected]

⭐Wednesday 2
- Exhibition, first chance to see, Departures and Returns at Burnside Gallery, Selkirk.
- Talk, SCAN Support session with Basic Income Conversation, 1pm, Online via Zoom.

Have you got an event that you would like to share with the CABN network? Send it to us at [email protected].

Visual Artist and Craft Maker Award (VACMA) 2026-7 are now open for applications.VACMA offers small grants to visual art...
26/08/2026

Visual Artist and Craft Maker Award (VACMA) 2026-7 are now open for applications.

VACMA offers small grants to visual artists and craft makers for their creative development at all stages of their career.

These awards are supported by Creative Scotland through funding from the National Lottery in partnership with Live Borders, Dumfries & Galloway Council, DG Unlimited, Upland and Creative Arts Business Network (CABN).
Bursaries are no longer based on career stage but should reflect an applicants chosen activity. The bursary tiers are £500 and £1000.

Autumn deadline: 5pm, Tuesday 20th October 2026
Winter deadline: 5pm, Tuesday 2nd February 2027

VACMA bursary cannot be used as partnership funding for any other Creative Scotland funding programmes. The scheme is for individual artists and makers living and working in the Scottish Borders or Dumfries and Galloway. Applicants must be able to demonstrate a commitment to their work– whether they are at an early or established stage of their practice- and to advancing their skills and ideas.

Applicants in the Scottish Borders can contact Creative Arts Business Network (CABN) at [email protected] for application support.

https://www.liveborders.org.uk/arts-creativity/vacma/

24/08/2026

*Artist Opportunity*

The Caerlee Mill Bike Campus in Innerleithen is looking for artists, designers, fabricators and creative teams to submit an expression of interest for a number of artworks. See the link for more details:

*CABN Film Edition*This Sunday we have a list of exciting film opportunities to share with you all: festival is open fo...
23/08/2026

*CABN Film Edition*

This Sunday we have a list of exciting film opportunities to share with you all:

festival is open for regular submissions until 30 October.

Applications are now open for the Scottish Documentary Institute's programme Bridging the Gap - got an idea for a gripping, short documentary? Well, applications close on 9 September.

is accepting applications for its Little Pictures programme which funds a film maker's first short in fiction, documentary, animation or experimental genres.

Meanwhile you may wish to head to Eastgate Theatre on 18 September at 8 p.m. to see 'Show Don't Tell' a curation of five short films from the Tweed Valley directed by rural filmmakers.

https://filmfreeway.com/alchemyfilmandarts
https://eastgatearts.com/whats-on/show-dont-tell
https://www.scottishdocinstitute.com/opportunities/bridging-the-gap/
https://www.gmacfilm.com/opportunities/little-pictures-2025/

The CABN Guide[image, Inwards, Outwards, & Earthwards performance at the Eastgate Theatre, supported by Creative Scotlan...
21/08/2026

The CABN Guide
[image, Inwards, Outwards, & Earthwards performance at the Eastgate Theatre, supported by Creative Scotland, Eastgate Theatre, Imaginate, Scottish Borders Climate Action Network, Buglife Scotland, Alchemy Film & Arts and Woven Kinship CIC.]

Some upcoming events you may want to look out for, with some very busy weekends!

Saturday 22 August
Deiseil Airson Dannsa Workshop, step dancing workshop at the Eastgate Theatre, 2 pm.

Mask making workshop with Connecting Threads and Transform Arts CiC at Newstead Village Hall, 10 - 3.

Exploring Basic Income for Artists, online session with the Scottish Artists Union, 2.30 - 4.30.

Video presentation and talk by the Lettering Arts Trust on Ian Hamilton Finlay’s lettering collaborators. Participants include Annet Stirling, Nick Sloan and Andrew Whittle, 2.00 p.m. at Little Sparta.

Saturday 29
Inwards, Outwards & Earthwards, An eco performance for 7-10 year olds and their families at the Eastgate Theatre, 11 - 2.

Exhibition, last chance to see: Andrew Mackenzie, Ground Lines at & Gallery, Edinburgh and meet the artist 11 - 1.

Exhibition: Art at Paxton, Ballroom and Garden at Paxton House, 10 - 4.

Beyond Borders Festival at Traquair House, arts, literature and politics until Sunday 30.

Ongoing:
Now - 1 September| Exhibition| Cosmic Colour and Radiant Visions: Annette Smart | Garfield Mill, Hawick.
Now - 17 September | Sir William Gillies RSA – A Love of Landscape Exhibition | Traquair House.
Now - 5 October | Exhibition: Past, Present, Future: The Royal Scottish Academy in the Borders | Hawick Museum.
Now - 2 November | Exhibition: Living on the Edge – Karen Charlton | Borders Textile Tower house, Hawick.
Now - 22 August | Exhibition: Path of Desire by Muriel Price | Halliwell's House Museum
Now - 20 November | Exhibition: Made by Mary Beck | Hawick Museum

If you've got an event that you would like to share then please email us at [email protected]

Address

Southern Upland Partnership
Galashiels
TD13PE

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when CABN Scottish Borders posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organisation

Send a message to CABN Scottish Borders:

Shortcuts

Share