On April 1, the Foundation and the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music signed an agreement whereby the ownership and management of the Gaza Music School were transferred to the Conservatory, making it branch of the Conservatory in the Gaza Strip. The Conservatory will in turn bear all administrative, technical, material and immaterial obligations. The Foundation started the Gaza Music School project in 2008 through a three-year co-funding partnership with the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA). Since then, the School has been providing the first ever structured and long-term music education programme in Gaza, teaching eastern and western instruments. The Foundation has drawn on local and international experts and partners to support the School and develop its programmes and instrument collection. Partners included the Music Fund (Belgium) and Al-Kamandjâti Association. Ahead of the recent transfer agreement, partnership with the Edward Said Conservatory was already integral to the work of the School in many areas, especially in terms of educational supervision, musical materials and technical aspects.