For Mara Acoma, the Futures Fund helped her to pay tribute to her late mother.
With the money she was awarded, Mara was able to publish her photobook, The Ghost Project, which has has worked on for the past four years.
The book is what Mara describes as a ‘symbolic closure’ of an emotional journey started by her mother’s terminal cancer diagnosis. After returning to the North East from Essex to care for her, Mara enrolled on the MA Photography class at Sunderland after her passing.
The financial support she received from the Futures Fund allowed her to start a limited edition print run of the book. It has gone on to be showcased at galleries across Britain, receiving critical acclaim.
“When I first held the initial proof copy in my hands, it was hard to hold back the tears as the book I had dreamed of became reality,” she said.
With a career in photography now on the horizon, she paid tribute to the Development Trust and donors who helped bring the project to life.