Evaluation Report – CABN Evolve

Live Borders recently commissioned an independent evaluation of CABN from Ruth Stevenson of Ruthless Research. This is now complete and can be viewed here – FINAL REPORT CABN EVOLVE Evaluation 14.4.22. The aim of the evaluation was to provide clear evidence of the impacts and the outcomes of the work of CABN through research and consultation with key stakeholders.

The CABN (Creative Arts Business Network) project is part of Arts & Creativity, Live Borders and develops the professional creative sector in the Scottish Borders through a diverse programme of support. External funding from Creative Scotland was secured in 2018 for the current phase of CABN called “CABN Evolve” and will shortly come to an end. This evaluation work has focused on the impact of the project “CABN Evolve” on the creative sector in the Scottish Borders and the extent to which the original aims contained within the funding bid to Creative Scotland in 2018.

The report also seeks to understand what has changed for micro-businesses and the creative sector locally as a result of the CABN project pre-covid and mid-recovery period and what other support mechanisms/models exist to deliver support to the creative sector in the region. The report also provides a high level commentary on the impact to the sector if CABN were to stop.

We welcome any observations or responses you have to this. Please email cabn@liveborders1.org.uk with any comments.