NEW YORK.- AXA Art, the world’s leading fine art insurance specialist, announced today that it has renewed and extended its partnership relationship with the international art shows, Art Basel and Art Basel Miami Beach. Under this expanded agreement, AXA Art will serve as Associate Sponsor, Exclusive Art Insurance Partner and Official Provider of VIP Guided Tours.

In making the announcement, Dr. Ulrich Guntram, global CEO of AXA Art said, “Over the years, AXA Art has enjoyed a rewarding relationship with the Art Basel shows. With Art Basel and Art Basel Miami Beach continuing to attract record number of visitors, we at AXA Art view this ongoing and growing partnership as a natural fit in our efforts to interact with existing and potential clients and to showcase our in-house competencies to an international audience”.

In commenting on AXA Art’s expanded role with Art Basel, Marc Spiegler, the fairs’ Director for Strategy and Development said, “AXA Art has been a longtime supporter of Art Basel, and we are delighted to be developing an even more intense collaboration with AXA, which plays a leading role within the international artworld”.

This year, Art Basel takes place from June 4 through the 8th. With its world-class museums, outdoor sculptures, theaters, concert halls, idyllic medieval old town and new buildings by leading architects, Basel ranks as a culture capital, and that cultural richness helps put the Art Basel week on the agenda for art lovers from all over the globe. During Art Basel, a fascinating atmosphere fills this traditional city, as the international art show is reinforced with exhibitions and events all over the region.

Art Basel Miami Beach runs from December 4 through 7, 2008. The sister event of Switzerland's Art Basel, Art Basel Miami Beach combines an exclusive international selection of more than 220 leading art galleries from North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa that exhibit 20th and 21st century artworks by over 2,000 artists. The fair is complemented with an exciting program of special exhibitions, parties and crossover events featuring music, film, architecture and design. It is once again anticipated that both fairs will garner a record number of attendees and play host to hundreds of leading artworld figures from around the globe.

As official provider of VIP Guided tours of both, Art Basel and Art Basel Miami Beach, AXA Art’s international art experts from its offices around the world will once again conduct VIP Guided tours in several languages. Participants will be offered general introduction to treasures, objects and sensations out of thousands of pieces of contemporary and modern art on exhibition.