More Than Just a Coffee Shop, Kolanta Becomes a Creative Community Hub in North Lombok

North Lombok — In North Lombok Regency, a coffee shop has evolved into more than just a place to enjoy beverages. Kolanta Coffee has transformed into a meeting point for the creative community—a safe space for young people to share ideas, build networks, and foster cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Now entering its second year, Kolanta Coffee continues to strengthen its role as a collective space that unites creative potentials that previously moved independently. Amid limited youth-friendly public spaces, Kolanta offers an inclusive and open alternative.

The owner of Kolanta Coffee, Raden Prawangsa, said the place was never designed solely to sell coffee. He wanted to create a fluid discussion space without social barriers or background limitations.

“Kolanta is a platform. Coffee is simply the bridge that allows people to sit together and have conversations,” he said on Friday, February 27, 2026.

According to him, one of the challenges in North Lombok is the large number of creative young people who are not yet connected. They have potential in fields such as art, photography, music, literacy, and creative content, but they still move separately.

Kolanta has taken on the role of a gathering space. From casual conversations at coffee tables emerge deeper discussions, which then develop into ideas and collaborations.

Raden explained that the movement built by Kolanta is not a large, rigid, formal movement. Instead, it focuses on small, consistent actions that directly impact young people.

He also emphasized that Kolanta does not foster exclusivity. Everyone is treated equally, regardless of social background or position.

“Here, nothing is exclusive. Everyone has the same right to come, discuss, and grow,” he said.

This open concept has gradually made Kolanta a second home for several communities—a place to exchange ideas, refine concepts, and build confidence to create.

Beyond strengthening its function as a community hub, Kolanta is preparing new steps as it enters its third year of operation. Raden revealed plans to build a mini museum and a creative workspace.

The mini museum idea emerged from the fact that North Lombok Regency does not yet have a regional museum, despite its rich traditional heritage and history.

Through a mini museum designed to be more relaxed and youth-friendly, Kolanta aims to create a learning space that is less rigid and closer to everyday life. Meanwhile, the workspace will serve as a productive area for communities to create and collaborate.

Raden hopes that this small initiative, starting from a coffee shop, can spark the development of a stronger creative ecosystem in North Lombok. He envisions young people no longer moving alone, but growing together in a mutually supportive space.

Amid the commercialization trend of coffee shops, Kolanta Coffee shows a different direction. It is not merely selling taste, but building a sense of belonging. From a cup of coffee grows conversation. From conversation comes collaboration. And from collaboration emerges a community moving forward together.