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Synatra Smith
Cultural Anthropologist
Dr. Synatra Smith is an Afrofuturist cultural preservationist and CLIR/DLF Postdoctoral Fellow in Data Curation for African American Studies at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.15 She specializes in demonstrating the creation, perpetuation, and transformation of Black cultural landscapes, with a focus on using digital tools to expand access to archives and special collections.5
In her role at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Dr. Smith leverages data and research about the museum's African-American art collection to enhance its presentation and interpretation.1 She also collaborates with Temple University's Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection and the Loretta C. Duckworth Scholars Studio to develop digital humanities projects that unite collections and make the African diaspora more accessible.1
Dr. Smith's background includes:
- Previous work at the Prince George's African American Museum and Cultural Center, managing education partnerships and leading a collections digitization project.1
- Doctoral research focused on Black middle-class identity construction through staged and non-staged performances.1
- Membership in the seventeenth cohort of Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) postdoctoral fellows.1
Her current projects and interests include:
- Developing immersive digital humanities projects showcasing local Black art and scholarship in Philadelphia through an Afrofuturist lens.5
- Collaborating on "Philly Necrofutures," an interactive digital exhibition addressing the lack of public knowledge about western and central African artworks at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.3
- Organizing symposiums on immersive collections and virtual reality access in cultural institutions.46
Dr. Smith is also active in mentoring and speaking engagements, including serving as a mentor for the Association of African American Museums Speed Networking program.2
Highlights
Excited to share that I've been chosen as a speaker for the #AAAM2024 46th annual conference! With over 120 proposals, I'm honored my panel made the cut! Join me in Baltimore, MD for the ultimate event supporting African American museums and the dedicated pros who cherish our history and culture. See you there!
Learn More & Register: www.BlackMuseums.org #BlackMuseums #BlackMuseumsMatter #AAAM #AfricanAmericanHistory #MuseumProfessionals #ExcitedToSpeak #Speaker #BlackCulture
I’m happy to share that I recently started a new position as Project Manager at New Jersey Historical Commission’s Black Heritage Trail!
