DJ Tranzish(ə)n

Co-owner - PEMEDIA

DJ Tranzish(ə)n, also known as, Kayla Borden is a multihyphenate, African Nova Scotian/Jamaican Maroon Descendent based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. She honors her heritage and ancestry through all of her community work. Kayla is currently the Training Administrator for Nova Scotia Career Development Association and has an extensive portfolio in advocating for mental health through art. She was the Founder of The OM Arts Collective and served as a juror for FACTOR, StART Festival and Music Nova Scotia. Kayla was the Outreach Coordinator for both Prismatic Arts Festival and served as the very first African Nova Scotian Outreach Coordinator for Music Nova Scotia in 2018. As Creative Director and Producer for StART Festival for many years she worked closely with The Bus Stop Theatre and has been consulted by the African Nova Scotia Music Association and the Halifax Black Film Festival to build community outreach strategies. She's been a talent scout for the Charles Taylor Theatre & Media and the Jamaican Cultural Association of Nova Scotia and has managed talent from all over Nova Scotia. Kayla believes in the power of representation, creativity, advocacy and empowerment; a motto she lives by is 

"the Sky is NOT the limit, because beyond it is so much space.”
 

EXPERIENCE

 
 

Collaborations

The Muse Hfx 
Emerging Lens Cultural Film Festival 
Charles Taylor Theatre Media and Arts 
Obey Convention Festival/Every Seeker Festival 
The Local Halifax 
North End Business Association 
Prismatic Arts Festival 
Youth Art Connection 
Emerge Festival 
Halifax Hopscotch Festival 
Black Artists in Dialogue (BAND) 
African Nova Scotia Music Association 
Halifax Pride 
Halifax Jazz Festival 
We Are Missing 
The OM Arts Collective 
Women in Film and TV 
Music Nova Scotia 
Nova Scotia Career Development Association
iMove 
Centreline Studios 
North Preston Community Centre 
Meta Arts Festival
Brampton Library  
97.5 FM CIOE Radio
 

Start Festival/Bus Stop Theatre Co-op

  • Juried for the 2016 Start Festival, Produced an artists showcase of dancers,digital art and musicians
  • 2017 Produced an BIPOC artists showcase of poetry, dance and music, organized a cultural braiding workshop and facilitated a resourceful community studios tour
  • 2018 Director collaborated with HIFF on programming mentorship initiative, hosted “A Intergenerational conversation on coming out” panel discussion 
  • 2018 Bus Stop Theatre Co-op Board member  
  • 2019 Creative Director coordinator, organize and plan Fashion, Art, Film, Poetry, Music Showcase and Artist talks

Jamaican Cultural Film Festival

  • 2015 member and showcase curator 
  • 2016 member and showcase curator 
  • 2017 member and showcase curator  
  • 2016 - 2017 StART Festival Partnership
  • 2018 Board member  

  • Paint Cha A Pitcha Productions

  • Viola Desmond Tribute Concert at The Marquee Ballroom, Halifax, NS. November 24, 2018 . The concerwas part of a series of events celebrating the release of the Viola Desmond on the $10 bill.

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  • Listen to Kayla Borden share why she puts on for her city.

    Better Halifax - Kayla Borden

  • Strange Froots & Zamani by Paint Cha A Pitcha Productions

    ReAD MORE

RECOGNITION

  • The Coast Best of Halifax 2018 Best Promoter Award

    Bronze Winner

  • Music Nova Scotia 2017 Industry Professional of the Year

    Nominee

  • The Coast Best of Halifax 2018 Best Promoter

    Bronze Winner

  • The Coast Best of Halifax 2019 Best Promoter

    Bronze Winner

baaff Blue Nose Ability Arts & Film Festival-BIPOC Artists Disability Roundtable

Join Lynn Jones, Kayla Borden, Des Adams, Maje, Raven Davis, and Meghan Sivani for a conversation about creating art during a pandemic. To learn more about the Bluenose Ability Arts and Film Festival, visit www.baaff.ca