Samara Smith works at the intersection of documentary, social practice, and emerging technology. Her work often explores, and is experienced in, public space. Her practice is collaborative– often expanding the role of “the audience” to participant or co-creator and blurring the line between the documented and documenter. 

She was recently awarded a National Endowment of the Humanities grant to design Virtual Aquapolis, an interactive VR project exploring the history of NY Harbor.

In 2016, she produced Central Park: Democratic Playground, a GPS-triggered soundwalk narrated by former parks commission Adrian Benepe, for the Detour App. 

Her media projects have been experienced in public spaces in Greensboro, Los Angeles, Manhattan, Brooklyn and beyond, and exhibited at museums, galleries and festivals–Hammer Museum, New York Transit Museum, Queens Museum, Elsewhere Museum, Open Source Gallery, Open Engagement, Conflux Festival, Fabric of Freedom, and more.

She also has numerous editorial film/TV credits on award-winning documentaries, including the 17 1/2 hour series New York: A Documentary Film by Ric Burns (post production supervisor and animation).

At State University of New York at Old Westbury, Smith teaches podcasting, video, documentary, journalism and media portfolio classes. She co-founded the Media Innovation Center where she recently oversaw a $1.125 million renovation of the teaching studios. In 2022, she received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Service.