The signatories’ actions are intended to lead to the creation of a unique, architecturally attractive building in Białystok, which will make the city and the entire region particularly recognizable both domestically and internationally. The theater is to serve as the city’s musical center and, combined with the region’s tourist attractions, significantly contribute to the economic development of Białystok and Podlasie, and above all, deepen social and cultural ties between the nations of the new, united Europe, we read in the letter of intent regarding the construction of the “European Centre for Music and Art – Podlasie Opera,” signed on July 9, 2004. The idea for the opera house was conceived by Marcin Nałęcz-Niesiołowski (director of the Białystok Philharmonic from 1997 to 2011), and the signatories to the agreement were the Podlaskie Voivodeship Government, represented by Janusz Kazimierz Krzyżewski, Marshal of the Podlaskie Voivodeship; Marek Strzaliński, Voivode of Podlaskie; and the City of Białystok, represented by Ryszard Tur, Mayor of Białystok. During a press conference held to mark the signing of the letter of intent, the Philharmonic director pointed to the great opportunity for the region offered by the construction of the opera house. There is no such facility on the right side of the Vistula River, he said. Later that same year, on October 25th, the Podlaskie Voivodeship Assembly passed a resolution of intent establishing the European Centre for Music and Art – Podlaskie Opera.
The beginning of 2005 was a crucial time for the development of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic – European Arts Centre in Białystok. On January 14th, the urban planning and architectural competition for the building’s concept was announced, and on April 25th, the results were announced. The winning design was submitted by Professor Marek Budzyński, and the contract was signed by Janusz Kazimierz Krzyżewski, Marshal of the Podlasie Voivodeship, and the designer of the winning design on August 1st, 2005.

In 2005, key decisions were also made regarding the institution’s organization and financing. On June 27, at the 29th session of the Podlaskie Voivodeship Assembly, councilors passed a resolution establishing the Podlaskie Opera and Philharmonic – European Centre for Music and Art. Two months later, on August 29, the Assembly adopted the statute and organizational principles of the new institution, and the Białystok Philharmonic changed its name to the Podlaskie Opera and Philharmonic – European Centre for the Arts in Białystok. On September 9, during a gala concert by the Podlaskie Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Marcin Nałęcz-Niesiołowski, Minister of Culture and National Heritage Waldemar Dąbrowski and Marshal of the Podlaskie Voivodeship Janusz Kazimierz Krzyżewski signed an agreement establishing and co-financing the Podlaskie Opera and Philharmonic. The opera received the status of a national cultural institution – the first in the Podlaskie Voivodeship. At the end of the year, on December 30, the Mayor of Białystok, Ryszard Tur, issued a building permit for the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic – European Art Centre in Białystok.

On April 22, 2006, the cornerstone laying ceremony for the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic – European Arts Centre in Białystok took place at the future construction site on Kalinowskiego Street in Białystok. The Foundation Act was read:

Foundation Act of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic – European Arts Centre in Białystok on Kalinowskiego Street, dated April 22, A.D. 2006, when Kazimierz Michał Ujazdowski was the Minister of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland, the office of Archbishop of the Białystok Diocese was held by His Excellency Most Reverend Archbishop Dr. Wojciech Ziemba, the office of Ordinary of the Białystok-Gdańsk Diocese of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church was held by His Excellency Most Reverend Jakub Bishop of Białystok and Gdańsk, the office of Marshal of the Podlaskie Voivodeship was held by Janusz Kazimierz Krzyżewski, the office of Podlaskie Voivode was held by Jan Dobrzyński, the office of Mayor of Białystok was held by Ryszard Tur, the initiator of the construction was Marcin Nałęcz-Niesiołowski – General and Artistic Director of the Białystok Philharmonic in the years 1997–2005, and on the ceremonial day the authorities of the Podlaskie Opera and Philharmonic – European Centre for the Arts in Białystok rested in the hands of the General and Artistic Director, Marcin Nałęcz-Niesiołowski.
By resolution of the Podlaskie Voivodeship Board, after obtaining the approval of the Podlaskie Voivodeship authorities and the City of Białystok, as well as support from European Union funds, it was decided:
Construction of the new headquarters building for the Podlaskie Opera and Philharmonic – the European Art Centre in Białystok, according to the design of the architect Prof. Marek Budzyński, winner of the Architectural Competition, will begin.

The ceremony culminated in the signing of the Act of Foundation, rolling it up, placing it in a special tube and bricking it up with symbolic bricks by the signatories.

On June 28, 2006, as a result of the limited tender for the selection of the Contractor for the investment task entitled: Completion of Phase I of the construction of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic – European Arts Centre in Białystok. A contract for the execution of the aforementioned task by Warbud S.A. – the General Contractor – was signed. On July 5th, the construction site was officially handed over to the General Contractor, and the legally required notifications and declarations were completed. This is also the commencement date of Phase I of the investment.

Further formal steps were taken on April 7th, 2009, when contracts were signed with Unibep S.A. for the execution of Phase II of the construction and finishing works, and with Przedsiębiorstwo Produkcyjno-Usługowo-Handlowe Rodex sp. z o.o. for the construction of the external façades and skylights. That same year, on June 15th, a contract was signed with sculptor Dominik Wdowski for the creation of 10 pairs of sculptures for the concert hall of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic. On June 29th, 2009, a contract was signed with the Minister of Culture and National Heritage signed an agreement to co-finance the project Construction of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic – European Art Centre in Białystok with PLN 100,620,000 from the Operational Programme Infrastructure and Environment, Priority XI Culture and Cultural Heritage, Measure 11.2 Development and improvement of cultural infrastructure of supra-regional importance. On August 11 of the same year, an agreement was signed with a consortium of companies consisting of LTT sp. z o.o., M. Ostrowski sp. j., P.W. Promont sp. j., and Waagner-Biro Austria Stage Systems AG for the implementation of stage and auditorium technology and electroacoustic installations in the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic building.

In February 2010, further agreements significant to the project were signed: on February 5th, with artist Tomasz Urbanowicz from the Archiglass studio for the production of artistic glass, and on February 15th, with Zych Zakłady Organowe for the construction of the organ.

In 2011, a number of projects were completed: on August 1st, sculptor Dominik Wdowski completed the installation of sculptures on the Main Stage; on October 18th, the installation of the pipe organ on the Main Stage of the Opera; on November 30th, the second stage of the Opera House construction by the general contractor Unibep S.A. was completed; and on December 19th, the installation of artistic glass in the Opera Foyer. That same year, further contracts were signed with artists: on August 30th, with sculptor Teresa Murak for the creation of the Composer’s Head sculpture, which adorns the roof of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic; and on October 25th, with visual artist Rafał Olbiński for the creation of a painting on the fire curtain on the Main Stage of the Opera.

The following year, on July 18th, work on the installation of the stage technology and electroacoustic installations was completed.

On 12 September 2012, an occupancy permit was issued for the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic – European Arts Centre in Białystok, and on 28–30 September the Grand Inauguration of the new building of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic – European Arts Centre in Białystok took place.