UnboxingBLR Foundation
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| Founded | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Prashanth Prakash, Malini Goyal |
| Type | Not-for-profit organisation |
| Focus | Cultural documentation and civic engagement |
| Headquarters | Bengaluru, Karnataka, India |
| Website | https://www.unboxingblr.com |
UnboxingBLR (also known as the Unboxing BLR Foundation) is a not-for-profit organisation based in Bengaluru, India, that engages in cultural documentation, community events, and urban discourse about the city's development and identity. It has been involved in research reports, cultural festivals, and public-private collaborations related to Bengaluru's urban landscape and culture.
UnboxingBLR was established in 2023 by Prashanth Prakash and Malini Goyal to document and explore Bengaluru's transformation into a major technology and cultural hub. From an originating collaboration on the book Unboxing Bengaluru: The City of New Beginnings, the platform expanded into a formal not-for-profit entity engaging in cultural and civic programming.[1]
Activities and initiatives
UnboxingBLR has undertaken multiple projects and initiatives related to Bengaluru's culture, data, and urban challenges:
Bengaluru Rising
The organisation produces a data report titled We Are City: Bengaluru Rising, which presents insights into the city's growth and comparative status among Indian and global urban centres.
BLR Hubba
Cultural festival, BLR Hubba, features performances, workshops, and public art across multiple venues in Bengaluru.[2]
Other
- In partnership with the Government of Karnataka and other stakeholders, the organisation supported the Namma Bengaluru Challenge, a programme to identify and support startups addressing urban climate challenges.
- UnboxingBLR has been involved in urban infrastructure collaborations, including revamp and beautification efforts for Bengaluru's Church Street under the BBMP's “Namma Bengaluru, Namma Koduge” programme.[3]
Publications
Unboxing Bengaluru: The City of New Beginnings is a book authored by Malini Goyal and Prashanth Prakash that explores Bengaluru's social, economic, and cultural evolution.
Partnerships and collaborations
UnboxingBLR has collaborated with government bodies including the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on urban improvement projects, and has partnered with organisations such as Social Alpha, WTFund, and the Greater Bengaluru Authority for initiatives addressing innovation and sustainability.[4]
Reception and coverage
The organisation's events and initiatives have been covered in Indian news media, including coverage of BLR Hubba as a cultural festival and of its role in urban redevelopment projects in Bengaluru.