LONDON.- The production of Steve McQueen’s new film Giardini, for his exhibition in the British Pavilion at the 53rd Venice Biennale, was supported by a new philanthropic partnership between two independent art charities, it was revealed today.

The Art Fund and Outset Contemporary Art Fund joined forces earlier this year to fund half the costs towards the production of Giardini. It is the first collaboration between the two charities, which both exist to ensure that outstanding works of art are seen by the widest possible audience. This UK funding was secured by Thomas Dane Gallery, London . The remaining half of the production funding was secured through Marian Goodman Gallery , New York and Paris , from an anonymous European funder. The British Council commissioned Steve McQueen to represent Britain at the 53rd Venice Biennale and has organised his exhibition in the British Pavilion.

Andrew Macdonald, Acting Director of The Art Fund, said: “Steve McQueen is an exceptional artist who has won many accolades. The Art Fund is delighted to be working with Outset on funding this new work, and to be able together to give an edition of it to a UK public collection in due course. This will be announced in autumn 2009."

Candida Gertler, co-Director and Trustee of Outset, said: “It is the remit of Outset’s production fund to support the most exciting and ambitious work and then to donate it to a public institution. We are thrilled to be supporting an artist of the calibre of Steve McQueen.”

Steve McQueen added: “I am very grateful to The Art Fund and Outset for their support in this project – especially in the current financial climate – and delighted that more people will be able to see the work as a result.”

The Art Fund has been working with McQueen on other projects. In 2007 it gave his powerful work Queen and Country to the Imperial War Museum . The work features images of British soldiers killed in the Iraq war on stamp sheets. The Art Fund is also campaigning on McQueen’s behalf to see his vision realised for the images to be issued as official stamps by Royal Mail and is currently touring the work across the UK .