The Society has been called into being in 1999 by a group of artists and individuals connected to Lutosławski, among which were Andrzej Bauer, Michał Bristiger, Julia Hartwig, Ryszard Kapuściński, Kazimierz Kord, Zygmunt Krauze, Jan Krenz, Józef Patkowski, Ewa Pobłocka, Jerzy Tchórzewski, Andrzej Wajda, and Antoni Wit.
Jan Krenz became the first president of the Society, followed by Zygmunt Krauze in 2003, and Jadwiga Rappé in 2006. Grzegorz Michalski was elected as President in 2009. The present president is Andrzej Bauer
At present the Society counts nearly 80 members, including 11 honorary members: Mario di Bonaventura, Heinz Holliger, Kazimierz Kord, Jan Krenz, Anne Sophie Mutter, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Heinrich Schiff, Andrzej Wajda, Antoni Wit, Krzysztof Zanussi, and Krystian Zimerman.
The aim of the Society is to extend its care over the artistic and spiritual legacy of Witold Lutosławski and to propagate his creative output. In realizing its chief aim, the Society benefits from the continued support of the composer’s family – Gabriela and Marcin Bogusławski – as well as that of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland, Council of the Capital City of Warsaw, as well as many private and institutional sponsors. This enables the Society’s publishing of books and sheet music, organizing festivals and educational concert series, exhibits, lectures, workshops, providing the inspiration for scholarly studies, supporting various centres in the country and abroad in their actions related to Lutosławski’s work, and finally, recommending young artists for the Witold Lutosławski scholarship founded by the composer’s heirs.
At the basis of the Society’s activities lies the voluntary work of its members, but it is also free to employ individuals to conduct its affairs. In 2006 the Society obtained the rights to engage in economic activity commensurate to the realization of its statutory goals. From the beginning of 2006 we possess our own locale, rented from the City of Warsaw on preferential terms, and which the Society has thoroughly renovated at its own cost and which it has adapted to its needs.