NEW YORK, April 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The New York Academy of Art has named the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies as the sponsor of the Academy's "2015 Fellows" program.

Three of the Academy's graduating students will be awarded Chubb Fellowships in late May. The post graduate fellowship is the highest honor the Academy can bestow on its students. Under the program, the fellows will have the opportunity to expand the breadth and depth of their artistic prowess while serving as teaching assistants and mentors to a new crop of talented figurative artists. Fellows will also receive studio accommodations, exhibition opportunities and a stipend.

"We are thrilled that Chubb has agreed to sponsor our fellowship program," said David Kratz, president of the New York Academy of Art. "Chubb's deep knowledge and expertise in the fine art world makes them an outstanding partner for the Academy and an important resource for artists, collectors and dealers."

"We are pleased to sponsor the Academy's '2015 Fellows' program, which helps talented artists from around the world launch their careers," said Melissa Lalka, worldwide fine art manager for Chubb Personal Insurance. "This program will not only enable us to help nurture these individuals but will also provide us with deeper connections and insight into the contemporary art field, which is of significant interest to our customers."

Chubb has long been a leading provider of insurance for private collectors of art, antiques, jewelry and other valuable possessions. In 2014, Chubb created the Fine Art Practice, which brings together its fine art resources worldwide in underwriting, loss prevention, appraisal and claims to respond to the evolving needs of its personal insurance clients with valuable collections.

The practice has access to 20 fine art and collector specialists in the United States who provide consulting and other services to clients who have a Chubb Valuable Articles insurance policy. The specialists, many of whom have degrees and other training in art and have worked in museums, galleries and auction houses, have extensive knowledge in assessing risks in homes, offices, galleries, art warehouses and other locations where collections may be kept.

About the New York Academy of Art

The New York Academy of Art promotes the development of an artist's personal vision and the creation of contemporary art by building upon the enduring traditions of figurative painting, drawing and sculpture. The New York Academy of Art is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit educational and cultural institution, offering an MFA degree program and a full roster of continuing education courses.

Founded in 1982 by artists, scholars, and patrons of the arts, including Andy Warhol, New York Academy of Art is a graduate school that combines intensive technical training in the fine arts with active critical discourse. The Academy believes that rigorously trained artists are best able to realize their artistic vision. Academy students are taught traditional methods and techniques and encouraged to use these skills to make vital contemporary art. The Academy serves as a creative and intellectual center for all artists dedicated to highly skilled, conceptually aware figurative and representational art.

About Chubb Group of Insurance Companies

Since 1882, members of the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies have provided property and casualty insurance products to customers around the globe. These products are offered through a worldwide network of independent agents and brokers. The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies is known for financial strength, underwriting and loss-control expertise, tailoring products for the needs of high-net-worth individuals and commercial customers in niche markets and select industry segments, and outstanding claim service.

The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies is the marketing term used to describe several separately incorporated insurance companies under the common ownership of The Chubb Corporation. The Chubb Corporation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and, together with its subsidiaries, employs approximately 10,000 people throughout North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Australia. For more information regarding The Chubb Corporation, including a listing of the insurers in the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, visit www.chubb.com.

Chubb Group of Insurance Companies
15 Mountain View Road
P.O. Box 1615
Warren, New Jersey 07059
Contact: Laurie Taylor
(908) 903-2611
Email: ltaylor@chubb.com

The New York Academy of Art
111 Franklin Street
New York, New York 10013
Contact: Harry Michas
(212) 842-5976
Email: hmichas@nyaa.edu

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SOURCE Chubb Group of Insurance Companies