Gasworks has announced that Earshot is the recipient of a new three-year Studio Bursary at Gasworks, supported by Mercedes Vilardell, from spring 2026 to 2029.
Founded by Lawrence Abu Hamdan in 2023, Earshot is the world’s first non-profit organisation using sound in the defence of human and environmental rights. Building on over a decade of Lawrence Abu Hamdan’s research and advocacy, Earshot transforms sound into a tool of justice and restores the soundtrack as a site of evidentiary power. From the sharp crack of gunfire to the oppressive hum of drones, its investigations treat sound as both an acoustic trace of violence and a means of control.
In under three years, Earshot’s investigations have provided facts for over 30 major media outlets, including Al Jazeera, the BBC, the Washington Post, the Guardian, Middle East Eye, Sky News and Le Monde, and have supported advocacy campaigns by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, B’Tselem, Forbidden Stories, and Global Rights Compliance.
Through original research and investigative cases — often collaborating with journalists and human rights organisations — Earshot demonstrates how sound can expose abuse, shift public perception, and amplify voices too often unheard. By embedding itself within a broader ecosystem of media outlets, legal teams, activist networks, and human rights organisations, Earshot produces expert audio evidence that no other organisation is equipped to deliver — strengthening calls for accountability in courtrooms, public forums, and international advocacy campaigns.
The Earshot team includes Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Renate Baumane, Fabio Cervi, Caline Matar, and Hyeongji Yang.
Gasworks’ Studio Bursaries offer UK-based artists and artist-led organisations sustainable studio space to develop and create new work over three years. Studio Bursaries provide direct support for artists at pivotal moments in their careers, covering their monthly rent and providing an annual stipend. Studio holders form an integral part of Gasworks’ community and create a dynamic and supportive environment for exhibiting and residency artists.
As well as Studio Bursaries, Gasworks hosts three-month, fully-funded international residencies, enabling up to 20 artists a year from all over the world to research and develop new work in London.
About Earshot
Lawrence Abu Hamdan — Earshot’s Founder and Director of Investigations, Abu Hamdan has over 10 years of experience in open-source sonic investigations. With a PhD focused on the technologies and techniques of forensic audio analysis, he has pioneered the use of sound in human rights advocacy, earning him the moniker Private Ear. In addition to producing forensic reports and evidence, he has presented lectures, films, publications, and exhibitions that have earned awards worldwide for his reflections on the political and cultural importance of sound and listening.
Caline Matar — Deputy Director at Earshot, Matar brings non-profit management expertise to the organisation’s administration, Human Resources, and strategic development. She leads outreach and editorial work that extends Earshot’s investigative findings into cultural forums and public engagement. Her career spans roles as Assistant Director at the Beirut Art Centre, Cultural Project Coordinator at the Goethe-Institut Libanon, and Scientific Coordinator at the Orient-Institut Beirut (Max Weber Stiftung). Her degree in Architecture from Académie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts further enables her to conduct intensive research and oversee Earshot’s investigations.
Fabio Claudio Cervi – Audio Investigator at Earshot, Cervi develops cutting-edge forensic sonic analysis tools and methodologies. His background in architecture enables spatial reconstruction of acoustic environments: modelling weapon trajectories, echo patterns, and sound propagation through complex built environments. Cervi holds a Master of Arts in Architecture from the Royal College of Art in London and has undertaken specialised coursework in Forensic Audio Enhancement at the University of Colorado. He has worked on over 40 cases, including for leading human rights organisations such as B’Tselem, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch.
Hyeongji Yang – Assistant Researcher at Earshot, Yang manages administration and production work that positions Earshot’s investigations within cultural and artistic contexts. Her work bridges technical findings with public-facing formats through spatial analysis and audio-visual outputs. Yang holds a Master of Architecture from the Royal College of Art in London, where her research examined the material and institutional infrastructures underlying climate finance and the politics of just transition. Building on a fully accredited architectural foundation in South Korea, Yang previously worked for five years as an Associate Architect in urban redevelopment, engaging with planning authorities and statutory design processes.
Renate Lurdesa Baumane – Assistant Audio Investigator at Earshot, Baumane develops visual methodologies for sonic investigation, translating complex audio analysis and spatial acoustics into accessible formats that communicate technical findings to diverse audiences. She studied at the Architectural Association, where her work examined military research and development cycles and the ways in which narrative-driven technologies developed in those contexts extend into civilian environments. Her broader research investigates how narrative, memory, and evidence are constructed through technological and institutional infrastructures.
