SERIES TWO – EDITION EIGHT
In edition eight of our ‘Faces behind the Business’ series two, we caught up with Alok Nayak aged 42, CEO and Artistic Director of Milap; Indian Arts & Culture events.
When did you first get into this industry?
I grew up with Indian Arts & Culture all around me, and attended concerts and performances for as long as I can remember. I don’t know if there’s a point at which I actually got interested in Indian Arts, but I started volunteering when I was a student, and more formally as a project manager in 2002. The Indian performing arts industry has always been a central part of my life, but I didn’t realise it, and that I could formally get into this industry until after I graduated!
How long have you worked at Milap and what is your job role?
I have worked at Milap since 2002, and currently I am CEO and Artistic Director.
What is Milap’s ethos?
Our ethos is expressed best through these words ‘Uniting Hearts Through Arts’. We use arts and culture performances, events and projects to try to bring people together, give them amazing experiences, and hopefully send them home happy. In our company passion for the work is vital, because it helps us to work all of the long hours dedicated to artists, audiences and in delivering our mission, which is ‘To inspire, educate and entertain people of all backgrounds, through Indian arts’. We are local and international, focused on both our immediate and global communities, and we work to change people’s lives for the better.
What’s the best bit of advice you could give to anyone looking at working in your line of work?
Take up a cause and fight for it like your life and career depend on it!
Though making money and growing your profile are crucial, if you have a single cause, vision or mission that keeps you going, it’ll transform your working life, and you won’t feel like you’re actually working at a job. This attitude helps you to work like an entrepreneur or start up, and to keep that vision and energy throughout your career. If you have room for multiple causes, even better, but it’ll make sure you are happy and effective, taking you through the ups and downs of a demanding career.
What do you love most about Liverpool?
The spirit of the city of course! This energy is represented by our people, our music and dance, our independents, architecture… everything about Liverpool just seems perfectly tailored to the city. I don’t love everything about Liverpool, but somehow it has this magical ability to give you what you need, and to make sense of things that don’t make sense. It’s easy to understand Liverpool and how to live here, and that’s what makes it so easy to call it home. I was born and brought up here, and after a few years away looking for more adventures and growth, I found I have just what I need right here.
If you could describe your business in 3 words what would they be?
Inspiration, Education, Entertainment.
Visit www.milapfest.com
Are you a business in the Liverpool City Region and want to feature in our Faces Behind the Business series? Contact us now by emailing hello@explore-liverpool.com or get us on WhatsApp on 07568 532 537.
