VIBC Announces New Artistic Director

Tarun Nayar - writer, producer, DJ, and musician - has been appointed artistic director of the Vancouver International Bhangra Celebration Society (VIBC).

Tarun “Tspoon” Nayar takes the reins as VIBC moves into its 12th year of bringing bhangra to local and international audiences. Since 2004, VIBC has been provoking, promoting, and inspiring cross-cultural creativity, communication, and community engagement through the arts, and they're thrilled that Tarun will be throwing his energy and passion toward VIBC’s aim of achieving ever higher levels of artistic excellence.

Tarun says that what he loves most about VIBC is “the energy, the people, and the sense of adventure. As artistic director, I’m looking forward to doing some really creative things with an art form I love, bhangra.” Through year-round events and programs, as well as the City of Bhangra Festival, VIBC works to builds bridges across cultures and communities, but Tarun’s not ready quite YET to share any big plans for the future: “Some of this is secret!” he says. “I can't let the cat out of the bag! but I want the parties to be bigger, I want to bring TransFusion back, and I want to bring in a headliner that will wow everyone.”

Besides working as a musician and producer, Tarun is a founding member of Vancouver's Beats Without Borders collective (hosts of the city's longest running global electronica club night) and Jam Camp (an organization that runs improvisational music camps for kids). He also has a long and illustrious connection with VIBC—he and band member Sanjay Seran have both performed at various VIBC events since the Festival began, and VIBC’s former VIBC founder and past director, Mo Dhaliwal, still co-writes some of their songs today.