House of Arts is one of the most important cultural institutions in Opava. Its establishment is connected with the rescue of the dilapidated building of the former Dominican monastery, for which a demolition order was even issued. Thanks to the socio-political relaxation at the end of the 1960s, it was saved and a substantial part of the building became the location of the town gallery. In 1974, the reconstructed House of Arts was inaugurated, followed by the opening of other premises - the Primary Art School and the wine bar U Přemka. The reconstruction was realized according to the architectural project of Ing. arch. Leopold Plavec, whose influence on saving the former monastery was essential. The architect Plavec used a bold method in Opava at that time of applying raw, postcard concrete in combination with large-scale glass in aluminium frames separating the ambit from the reconstructed Garden of Eden. The newly built entrance to the whole building was carried in the spirit of modernism with sensitively composed proportions and scale. On the other hand, an approach characterised by an attempt to 'beautify' the space of the former monastery was applied, even at the cost of losing its authenticity, the power of simplicity and functionality. The warehouse windows of the former church were returned to their Baroque form, while the interior of the House of Arts and Wine Bar was to be artistically elevated with a marble floor, wrought-iron grilles and railings by Alfred Habermann and original cast-glass light fittings by František Vízner. The House of Arts was the pride of socialist culture, its shrine, which the authorities of the time wanted to demonstrate their culture and care for monuments and art. The activities of the House of Arts were generally in keeping with the political atmosphere of the 1970s and 1980s, but some of its exhibitions have gone down in history and in the memory of visitors.

The opportunity to exhibit completely freely without political pressures came, of course, after the Velvet Revolution. At that time, the House of Art was going through a great period. It enjoyed considerable popularity among visitors, who in turn were provided with quality art that could not be officially presented in previous years. Karolina Hřivnáčová-Bayerová, the first gallerist of the "free" House of Art, organised exhibitions of well-known personalities of Czech contemporary art and interesting thematic shows that took place in important Czech galleries at that time. At the end of the 1990s, social interest in the presentation of contemporary art waned, the gallery gradually moved its activities outside Opava and the new operator of the declining House of Art became the Bludný kámen association.

During ten years, Bludný kámen has turned the House of Art into a significant centre of contemporary art. Its own premises hosted regular exhibitions of contemporary visual art, the wine bar U Přemka hosted avant-garde jazz concerts, the neighbouring former church of St. However, the technical and aesthetic condition of the interior of the monastery and the level of the House of Arts' facilities, after 30 years of operation, were in need of a complete modernisation.

During 2005-2006, the long-planned reconstruction of the interior of the former church was carried out according to the project of architects Daniel Špička and Mikoláš Hulc in cooperation with the restorer Josefína Pekárková, who applied the method of minor refinement and conservation rather than radical interventions and changes. In the space of the church, they let its suggestive atmosphere, given by the visible traces of the passage of history, which is interestingly combined with contemporary art. In 2010-2011, the Church of St. Wenceslas was followed by the reconstruction of the House of Arts, the wine bar and the primary art school. Špička and Hulec approached the reconstruction of the entire building sovereignly, without prejudice or unnecessary humility, and gave it their distinctive face. The massive and sculptural entrance made of coloured concrete contrasts with the lightness and elegance of the previous design, but structurally completes the original west wing of the monastery. The paradise courtyard, which was destroyed after the Second World War and reconstructed in the 1970s, now remains only in the footprint of two concrete steps and a few brick columns. It is roofed over and connects freely with the adjacent ambit. This has created a rather generous space allowing for a variety of uses. The actual space of the House of Art has received new lighting, a hanging system and floors made in imitation of old ceramic tiles. The once inconspicuous entrance to the oratory has been moved to the west side of the building so that a staircase can carry a ramp for wheelchair users, who can also be served by a newly constructed semi-outdoor lift. Surprisingly, the artistically accented wrought iron railings in the exhibition space remained and were supplemented with simple rectangular glass barriers for safety reasons.

The Opava Cultural Organization takes care of the exhibition operation of the House of Arts. Its aim is to create a rich offer of contemporary visual art with supra-regional significance. This is supported by the establishment of the Architecture Cabinet, the Photography Cabinet, exhibitions of prominent personalities of contemporary art, thematic exhibitions with a supporting curatorial concept, shows of studios of art schools, symposia, creative interventions in public space, animation programmes and many other activities.