About CABN

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

Visual Arts, Craft, Literature, Film, Music and Performing Arts .

CABN delivers specialised training and support, and runs a grant scheme for Visual Artists and Craft Makers in partnership with Creative Scotland.

CABN Creative Leader Mary Morrison can be contacted for advice, and depending on what sort of support you require, can also signpost you to other organisations who can help you further.

CABN is currently funded to December 2013 to deliver a range of activities under the project heading 'New Work'. This New Work programme is funded by Scottish Borders LEADER and Creative Scotland. The project is based in Tower Mill, Hawick and is managed by a part-time Creative Leader (Mary Morrison) and a part time Clerical Assistant (Kay McCluskey).

CABN 'New Work' Programme April-December 2013

A previous funded phase of the CABN project ran to December 2012 as a South of Scotland partnership with Dumfries and Galloway Council, and this new project phase ‘New Work’ will continue to link with Dumfries and Galloway partners where appropriate, but will have more flexibility in terms of focus in the Scottish Borders. Key elements of the New Work project are:

Extending the role of Creative Business Advocates within the project. The Advocates will be experienced practitioners in their fields and will inform the design and the delivery of the CABN New Work project. CABN will recruit Advocates to cover 6 sectoral areas: Visual Arts, Craft, Literature, Public Art & Community Engagement, Performing Arts (Dance & Drama), Music. For some sectors we may recruit more than 1 advocate to cover a single sectoral area, in order to get a spread of skills.
A mentoring programme. This will complement the role of the advocates, and allow us to bring additional skills into the project. A Mentor Co-ordinator will be recruited to drive this programme, through identifying individuals and organisations with particular needs who can be 'matched' to a mentor. We are currently recruiting mentors to the CABN New Work project across sectors.
Using Social Media to promote the CABN programme and opportunities, and also to engage better with the sector. A freelancer will be recruited to the CABN New Work project to drive this in tandem with the CABN website.
A 'Go and See' fund – some funds available to support individuals and organisations from the Scottish Borders to investigate different models, attend key conferences and events which will enable them to ‘bring something’ back which will have a developmental impact on their practice or organisation.
Focus on Creative Workspaces and Hubs and how we can support these. This is not so much about capital projects and new builds, but about use or development of existing spaces/access to existing facilities and fostering networks.
Focus on support to sectoral networks and different models for creative organisations – for examples Co-ops/Collectives/Social Enterprises.
Training and Networking Events programme – we will build on previous event delivery and feedback, and also be able to respond to demand/requests for specific training and networking events. The Creative Business Advocates will feed directly into the design and delivery of these events and we will work in partnership with other organisations – for example Cultural Enterprise Office, Business Gateway – as appropriate.

The main aim of CABN is to stimulate, strengthen and support the creative industries sector in the Scottish Borders, and in this short term funded phase of CABN, looking to longer term strategic support for the sector. The New Work programme is informed by the learning of the previous project phase of CABN (2010-12) and the evaluation of that project. The Evaluation of CABN 2010-12 is available on request from mmorrison@scotborders.gov.uk