Ostrava Center for New Music (OCNM) was founded in 2000 thanks to the initiative of Petr Kotík. A series of concerts with the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra—where pieces by Earl Brown, John Cage, Alvin Lucier, Pauline Oliveros, Martin Smolka, and Karlheinz Stockhausen were played—prompted the idea of creating a special independent organization for new music.

OCNM was created for the purpose of organizing the biennial Ostrava Days Institute and Festival, a three-week-long summer project for composers, musicians, and musicologists from all over the world. Ostrava Days is a working and learning environment focused on orchestral compositions and audience with interest in contemporary art. During even years, OCNM organizes NODO/New Opera Days Ostrava. OCNM also organizes occasional one-off events of extraordinary musical significance.