Funding & Grants
There are various routes to funding for the creative sector – locally and nationally. Funding can be for both business or creative development, for individuals or organisations.
If you would like advice on funding please contact us at hello@cabn.info
Projects may start at any time from 6 April 2026 and must be completed by the 24 August 2026.
To apply, you must:
Download and email a completed application form which can be found below OR submit a video answering the questions contained in the form.
CABN Small Grant Fund Application Form .docx
Guidelines here
CABN Small Grants Fund Guidelines pdf
CABN Small Grants Fund Guidelines.docx
Budget example - template CABN Small Grants Fund
CABN is offering bursary support for Scottish Borders based designers and makers to attend trade fairs and is keen to hear from any design or craft businesses who have secured a place or are planning to attend an exhibition or trade fair at national or international level.
We have Bursaries of up to £500 to support with costs to attend such events, which could cover stand expenses, travel and marketing costs for example.
This support is for businesses at any stage of their career, but they must show a commitment to practice, and be able to articulate in their application how the opportunity will have a significant impact on their profile and business.
The application is light touch with no fixed deadline, and currently applications are closed.
Please contact us for more details on the fund or to register your interest.
Visual Artist and Craft Maker Award (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 and Upland.
The fund is open to Visual Artists / Craft Makers who can demonstrate a commitment to developing their creative practice and who are living or working or maintaining a studio space within the Local Authority area to which they are applying.
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.
See details of the fund as a whole (information not specific to the Scottish Borders) on the Creative Scotland website.
Read more about the scheme and check for any updates on our website here, and on the Live Borders website here.