CABN Scottish Borders

16/06/2026

🚲 Meet Jules Horne, one of our CABN Small Grants Fund recipients.

Jules is an award-winning playwright with radio credits including M_a_c_m_i_l_l_a_n_’s_ _M_a_r_v_e_l_l_o_u_s_ _M_o_t_i_o_n_ _M_a_c_h_i_n_e_ _(BBC Radio 4), Life: An Audio Tour (BBC Radio 4), Small Blue Thing, Overdue South (BBC Radio Scotland), Inner Critic (BBC Radio 5) and theatre work including Fringe-First-winning Allotment and Thread (Nutshell Theatre), and Gorgeous Avatar (Traverse Theatre). Her short films on aspects of Borders life include The Ba, Unconformity and Remeandering.
Her work is often site-specific and includes verbatim and audience participation. Recently she extended this approach in The Big Border Bogle Hunt (Alchemy Film & Arts), a hybrid live theatre-augmented reality (AR) Halloween panto incorporating Hawick Film Group cine archive footage. This explored themes of time layers, community and local geology within a quest narrative.
As a solo practitioner, Jules writes and performs Scots spoken word with short films and looper, and experiments with kinetic and interactive poetry. She has a strong interest in expanded storytelling and audience engagement supported by creative technology, and most recently took part in Civic Digits’ Lightbulb programme on data-driven theatre and the RCS Split Screen Programme, both bringing together artists developing the use of creative technology in live performance.

She is a board member of Creative Coathanger, an artist-led Scottish charity working to support greater sustainability and resilience for artist livelihoods in the Scottish Borders.
M_a_c_m_i_l_l_a_n_’s_ _M_a_r_v_e_l_l_o_u_s_ _M_o_t_i_o_n_ _M_a_c_h_i_n_e_ _
The Small Grants Fund will contribute towards the production development of Jules’ BBC Radio 4 play M_a_c_m_i_l_l_a_n_’s_ _M_a_r_v_e_l_l_o_u_s_ _M_o_t_i_o_n_ _Machine into a small-scale, sustainable touring theatre production based on the story of Kirkpatrick Macmillan, Scottish bicycle inventor.

08/06/2026

🌿 Meet Ellie Ballantine, one of our CABN Small Grants Fund recipients.

Based in Peebles, Ellie is an artist, researcher and writer whose work explores care, ecology, landscape and our relationships with the natural world. Drawing on eco-feminist approaches and an interest in how humans, plants and animals experience time differently, her creative practice connects art, conservation and environmental research.

With support from the CABN Small Grants Fund, Ellie will attend murmuration – gathering of listeners 2026, a residency and workshop focused on field recording, sound art and deep listening practices. The training will help Ellie develop new ways of incorporating sound into her work, exploring how listening can deepen our understanding of Scotland’s diverse ecological habitats.

Ellie hopes to bring these skills back to the Scottish Borders, sharing them through workshops, listening activities and collaborations with community groups and environmental organisations, helping others connect more closely with the landscapes around them.

Photo Credit: Pheobe Riley Law

04/06/2026

Unfortunately, due to low booking numbers, we have made the difficult decision to cancel our Summer Manifest event.

We would like to thank everyone who showed an interest and supported the event. We look forward to welcoming you to one of our future events in 2026/27.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

The CABN Team

28/05/2026

27/05/2026

🌿✨ Celebrate creativity, community & connection at CABN Manifest – Family Day ✨🌿
Saturday 13 June
14:00- 18:00
Birkhill House CiC

Join us this June at beautiful Birkhill House for a joyful day of art, nature, music, and togetherness — perfect for all ages.

Wander through hands-on creative workshop, enjoy live music amongst the trees, and connect with other local artists, performers, and makers from CABN (Creative Arts Business Network). Discover creativity in one of Birkhill House’s most picturesque heritage settings and spend the day exploring, making, and meeting new people.

🎨 Drop-in creative workshop for children & adults
🧺 Bring a picnic and relax in the grounds
💬 Meet local creatives and connect with community

Whether you’re an artist, a creative family looking for a day out, or simply someone who loves nature, culture, and good company — this day is for you.

🎟 Free / Pay-What-You-Can (booking recommended), book on Eventbrite, link in bio.
♿ Wheelchair accessible
☕ Family facilities & refreshments available on site

Come along and celebrate creativity where it blooms best — in community, in nature, and together. 🌸

27/05/2026

🌟Join us for ‘ALRIGHT! Living Well Through the Arts’ at Heart of Hawick, an informal sharing event celebrating creative wellbeing from across the Borders. 🌟

🐣Event: ALRIGHT! Living Well Through the Arts
📅Date: Thursday 18th June
⏰Time: 19.00-20.30
🌎Location: Heart of Hawick
🎟Tickets: https://bit.ly/HoH-ALRIGHT

We’ll hear from projects highlighted in a new research report from NHS Borders on how they use the arts and culture for better health and wellbeing. The event will include performances from people and groups who use the arts for creative expression, for improving health and wellbeing, who are better connected by participating in the arts or who get creative as a well of unwinding after a stressful day.

If you face any barriers that may stop you from attending this event, please contact us at [email protected] and we will do our best to help.

Supported by Creating Hope Scottish Borders and Scottish Borders Health and Social Care Partnership

18/05/2026

Need support with Community or Public Art projects?

CABN Advocate for Community and Public Art, Lara Greene, is now available for 1:1 advice sessions for creatives across the Scottish Borders.

Lara is an artist based in Selkirk with a background in sculpture, public art and freelance educational work. She is the founder of Transform Arts, creating meaningful creative opportunities for children and young people.

With specialist knowledge in public art commissioning, funding, planning, fabrication, installation and technical delivery, Lara can offer guidance for artists at many stages of their practice or project development.

Her wide-ranging experience also spans casting, woodwork, painting, sewing and mechanical/kinetic art processes.

Whether you are developing a public art proposal, exploring community engagement, or looking for practical creative advice, these sessions are an opportunity to connect, ask questions and gain support.

Find out more and book your session through CABN, cabn.info - link in bio

14/05/2026

🌿 We’re delighted to be hosting the next Common Ground gathering on 22nd May at the Hugo Burge Foundation.

As part of the day, the Hugo Burge Foundation team will offer insight into the residencies they host, alongside a tour of their creative spaces and the opportunity to hear directly from current Artists in Residence about their experiences.

Set within a unique creative environment, the Foundation supports artists across disciplines through residencies that encourage experimentation, reflection, and the development of new work.

Join us for an afternoon of conversation, inspiration, and connection as we explore how residencies can support creative practice and open up new opportunities.

🎟 Tickets available on Eventbrite — link in bio.

13/05/2026

✨ Introducing Lisa Cowan – Children & Youth Advocate ✨

We’re delighted to introduce Lisa as part of our advocacy team, supporting children and young people’s access to creative opportunities across Scotland.

Lisa brings extensive experience in youth media, arts practice, and national sector advocacy through her work with projects such as Bloom Media and Children and Youth Arts Advocacy (CYAA).

💬 Lisa is now available for 1:1 advice sessions — offering guidance, ideas, and support for creative development and youth-focused practice.

📩 Book a session via the form on our website.

12/05/2026

Meet CABN Advocate Dr Kerri Andrews ✨

Kerri is a non-fiction writer and academic, and the author of the best-selling book Wanderers: A History of Women Walking. She specialises in creative non-fiction, memoir, research, editing, and developing ideas into strong written projects.

Whether you’re shaping a new idea, refining a proposal, or navigating the writing and editing process, Kerri can offer tailored advice and support through CABN 1:1 sessions.

You can book a 1:1 advice session with Kerri via the online form — link in bio.