NAPLES, FL.- International Fine Art Expositions, organizers of leading prestigious international art fairs around the world, today announced a strategic alliance with Mark Edward Partners, insurance brokers, and the Chartis insurers, leading property-casualty and general insurance providers, to serve as the exclusive insurance brokers and underwriters, respectively, for IFAE’s upcoming 2012 fair schedule.

“We are excited about the value this new relationship with Mark Edward Partners and Chartis will add to IFAE and Expoships, LLLP, to our fairs, and for the fair attendees,” commented David Lester, principal of IFAE and Expoships, LLLP. “As a premier insurance brokerage firm for high-net-worth individuals, especially those who collect art and other valuable articles, Mark Edward Partners is particularly well suited to join us in this venture. The Chartis insurers—which insure many of the country's top collectors through its Private Client Group—are a natural fit for us as well.”

Mark E. Freitas, president and chief executive officer of Mark Edward Partners, noted, “IFAE’s 2012 winter fairs promise to be among the best the organization has hosted to date, and we are pleased to be joining together with both Chartis and IFAE for the upcoming season of events in Florida.”

The strategic alliance will encompass IFAE’s winter 2012 Florida fair season. The schedule of events includes Miami International Art Fair (MIA), taking place January 12-16 aboard SeaFair—America’s Megayacht Venue; ArtPalmBeach on January 19-23; the American International Fine Art Fair (AIFAF) on February 3-12; and Naples International Art & Antique Fair (NIAAF) on February 23-28. Additionally, Mark Edward Partners and Chartis will be sponsoring special events and lectures for collectors and vendors at MIA, ArtPalmBeach, AIFAF, and NIAAF.

IFAE Principals, David and Lee Ann Lester have been in the art fair industry for over 20 years and have organized over 70 international art fairs in art capitals around the world including New York, Chicago, Hong Kong, and London. IFAE has pioneered the Florida market establishing the American International Fine Art Fair (AIFAF) in 1997, now one of the premiere fine art fairs in America, and ArtPalmBeach in 1998, one of Florida's most celebrated contemporary fairs. In addition, the firm founded Miami Florida's original international art fair, Art Miami, in 1991. In 2011, IFAE launched two of the most successful fairs inaugurated that year, the Naples International Art & Antique Fair (NIAAF) and Art Naples.

In addition, the firm owns and operates SeaFair, America’s Megayacht Venue. SeaFair is the world's first mobile mega-yacht venue and one of the largest private yachts in the United States. Groundbreaking in scale, ingenuity and style, the innovative exhibition facility - which remains dockside during each event - pairs international fine art, jewelry and collectables with harbor view dining and special events in cities along the eastern seaboard.