A Life Framed by Art: Alice Sachs Zimet ’67 on Passion and Purpose

When Alice Sachs Zimet ’67 entered The Baldwin School in the middle of her junior year, she assumed she was committing what she jokingly calls “academic suicide.” Transferring to a new school at such a critical point would be daunting for anyone, much less a student preparing for college entrance exams. Yet, Baldwin’s all-girls environment — and especially the camaraderie among fellow boarders — provided what she describes as a “safe haven.” Within Baldwin’s intimate and academic setting, she found not only stability, but also the space to grow into the confident, ambitious woman who would go on to shape two fields: corporate sponsorship in the arts and the collecting (and acceptance of) fine-art photography.

 

Today, Alice is the Founder and President of Arts + Business Partners, a consultancy she launched in 1999 initially to advise in the field of corporate sponsorship working with both corporate sponsors and arts groups looking for funding. She then began to focus more on her photography passion, advising both collectors and photographers navigating the fine-art photography marketplace. Alice is celebrated worldwide as a collector, educator, advisor, and arts leader. But long before she chaired curatorial committees at the Harvard Art Museums, guided acquisitions at the International Center of Photography (ICP), or mentored thousands of aspiring collectors and photographers, Alice was a young woman at an all-girls school discovering just how far confidence, independence, and a passion for the arts could take her.

 

Although she arrived with a strong foundation — an arts-loving family, fluency in French, and early exposure to art history — Alice credits Baldwin with nurturing her academic strength and sense of belonging. She fondly remembers listening to art history lectures and challenging herself to identify artists before the teacher announced them. “I was right about 90 percent of the time,” she recalls with a laugh.

 

Teachers such as her French instructor, Madame Melchior, reinforced her love of languages and culture. More importantly, the all-girls environment strengthened her resolve to pursue goals that blended creativity and leadership. “If you can get paid in a field that you love, there is no better career path,” Alice would advise today’s Baldwin students.

 

With bachelor and master of arts degrees in Art History, and early internships at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the newly founded International Center of Photography, entering the art world and her first professional chapter never felt like a hurdle. “Those two positions paved the way for doors to open as I began my journey,” Alice recalls.

 

Yet her path took an unexpected turn. Hoping to join The Chase Manhattan Bank’s corporate art collection, she instead interviewed for — and was immediately offered — a position in the philanthropy department. Her father predicted the job would change her life, and he was right.

During her 20-year tenure at Chase, Alice pioneered something revolutionary: using the arts not only as charitable giving, but as a strategic marketing tool. She created the bank’s worldwide Cultural Affairs Department, forging partnerships across 14 countries and 20 U.S. cities. Her work generated $2 billion in new business through what she calls “cultural marriages” — initiatives that simultaneously advanced the bank’s business goals and supported the arts.

 

One project stands out above all: persuading the bank, in the mid-1980s, to make a philanthropic donation toward AIDS support. Her persistence led to a $15,000 grant to St. Vincent’s Hospital, which was earmarked for an AIDS program — making Chase the first commercial bank to take such a stand. “Believe in yourself, believe in your instincts, and stand firm,” she advises. It is a principle that continues to guide her work today.

 

Alice began collecting fine-art photography in 1984, a time when the medium lacked widespread acceptance. “Everyone around me said ‘photography is not art,’” she remembers. “Boy, do they regret not listening to me now!”

 

Her first purchase — a photograph by Andrew Bush — resonated deeply with memories of her family, time spent in France, and her upbringing in the arts. She quickly realized that collecting is often autobiographical; each image holds personal meaning. But when it came to buying her first image, she couldn't buy just one. She felt the need for a second companion piece and bought “Studio Kitchen” from the same series. To this day, Alice continues to collect in pairs or threes.

 

Now 40 years later, Alice has assembled a museum-quality collection of 348 photographs by 149 different photographers, ranging from 20th-century icons like Cartier-Bresson, Berenice Abbott, and Mapplethorpe to contemporary visionaries such as Cindy Sherman and Zanele Muholi. Her collection is shaped by three main themes: artist portraits, France, and portraits of deep humanity. The works confront issues such as identity, adolescence, racism, and resilience.

 

One of the most distinctive elements of her collecting practice is that she lives with nearly all her photographs on the walls. “I purposely don’t have storage,” she says. “My walls provide that boundary.” Without storage, every acquisition must be intentional — and loved.

 

Alice’s dedication to women photographers is also notable; her collection includes roughly 60 images by about 20 female masters, from Nan Goldin to Martine Franck to Sally Mann. Her acquisitions continue to evolve: in recent years she added works by Deborah Kass, August Sander, Elliott Erwitt, Louis Stettner, and even an 1898 self-portrait of Toulouse-Lautrec.

 

Alice’s expertise has propelled her into a celebrated teaching career. She works regularly with Christie’s Education, the ICP School, Maine Media Workshops + College, the Center for Photography at Woodstock and others, educating well over 1,000 students, collectors, museum trustees, and photographers. She also advises private collectors — researching, vetting, and guiding acquisitions — and has placed roughly 250 photographs in collections around the world.

 

Her philosophy is simple yet profound:
“Buy with your heart. Then buy with your brain. But never buy with your ears.”

 

As a leader, she serves as Chair of both the Photography Curatorial Committee at the Harvard Art Museums and the Collections Committee at ICP, and sits on the boards of the Magnum Foundation, The American Photography Archives Group (APAG), and the Center for Photography at Woodstock. Her contributions earned her the 2024 APAG Distinguished Service Award.

 

When asked how her Baldwin education connects to her life today, Alice reflects on the role of courage. “Don’t be afraid to take chances,” she says. “Take risks tied to what you believe in.” Transferring to Baldwin mid-year. Choosing a nontraditional path in museum education. Defending photography as fine art long before the market caught up. Each leap required conviction — and Baldwin helped nurture that in her.

 

Today, she encourages Baldwin students and alumnae to bring together creativity, intellect, and passion in their careers. The arts, she insists, are a field where heart and professional purpose can align beautifully. For those interested in the photography marketplace, Alice extends an open invitation: “Join our mailing list, participate in a workshop, or better yet, let me help you find that special photograph.”

 

Her journey — from Baldwin boarder to global arts leader — serves as a testament to the power of a bold idea, a sharp eye, and a School that teaches young women to trust their instincts.

 

If you’d like to reach out to Alice or join her mailing list to learn about classes, you can contact her at (917) 689-3588, alice@artsandbusinesspartners.com or visit her website at artsandbusinesspartners.com.