Ora's establishment by the painter Assantour Baharian (1924-1990) in 1969, coincided with the awakening of greek cultural life, after the first two years of the military junta (1967-74). Ora was housed in a two-floor neoclassical building at the Athens centre (7, Xenophon str.), where it operated until 1992, presenting hundreds of solo, group, thematic and retrospective exhibitions, as well as various other cultural events (lectures, seminars, discussions, etc.), covering a wide artistic spectrum. At the same time, it developed a worthwhile publishing activity, including the annual journal Chroniko (since 1970), which listed the annual cultural events, including reviews, innovative research and studies by arts experts.
Ora's artistic choices were based on an outlook both liberal and pluralistic. Its rooms housed works by established and younger artists, covering the most diverse styles, from representational painting to experimental installations. Since 1975, the annual Meetings of Young Artists were formally established, giving the opportunity to young artists from different areas (art, architecture, music, literature, theater, etc.) to communicate with each other and with the public. During its 23 years of operation, Ora managed to adapt to the era's latest developments and became an important cultural centre, always preserving its initial principals: progressivism, mobility and diversity.