After a two year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and after a war that destroyed a lot in Gaza, the ESNCM in Gaza organised its sixth edition of the "Festival of Freedom and the Sea", throughout the month of October.
Under the slogan "Gaza loves life", the festival's activities were launched with the "Music Bus” to create an atmosphere of joy and hope targeting children in the five governorates of the Gaza Strip.

Starting with a tour of the music bus, which traveled in the five governorates of the Gaza Strip and carried out ten concerts for children, in partnership with civil institutions in Rafah, Khan Yunis, Nuseirat, Deir al-Balah, Gaza and the North, with the aim of spreading the culture of music and bringing joy to the hearts of children who have suffered from the scourge of the last Israeli aggression Gaza.
In the context of strengthening its relationship with the local community and its institutions, the festival presented two musical performances, with the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) in Gaza, and the Palestinian Association for Development and Heritage Protection in the North.
The performances of the Arab Music Ensemble of the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music form the main core of the festival, which bears a folkloric and national character through the musical and lyrical program presented by the bands. The students of the Conservtory also have a key place in the artistic performnces included in these concerts through the Tartim band and the Conservatory choir.
Within the festival concerts, the conservatory hosted two youth local bands, Watar Band and Tartim Drums, embodying the Institute’s mission to support young talents and promote a Palestinian national and human culture.

Director of the Festival and the conservatory in Gaza, Ms. Manal Awwad, says that the Sea and Freedom Festival provides a space and an opportunity for all music lovers and connoisseurs in the Gaza Strip to express their passion for music by enjoying attending the various concerts offered by the festival, which is almost the first and only music festival organized annually in the Gaza Strip. She also added that the festival's activities for this year made sure that children had the largest share through the concerts of the bus and its tours in the governorates of the Gaza Strip, east, west, north and south.​​​​​​