The Civil Non-Profit ‘Association for the Creation of a New Building for the Greek National Opera and the Academy of Lyric Art Maria Callas’ (recognised by the Ministry of Culture – Official Government Gazette 1059/2002) was founded in 2000, upon the initiative of the distinguished opera artist Mrs Vasso Papantoniou, with the participation of 30 partners, who have a significant presence in the world of arts and science and are its founding members. The Association’s purpose was to construct the new building for the Greek National Opera and the ‘Academy of Lyric Art Maria Callas’.