Internet giant Google has announced a "major" international expansion of the Art Project, after it entered into more than 150 new partnerships with institutions across 40 countries.

More than 30,000 objects are now available to view in high resolution, up from the 1,000 in the first version. Meanwhile, there are now 46 museums and galleries covered by Google Street View images.

A wide range of institutions across the world, including collections in the UK, Australia, the US, Brazil and India, are among those to sign up to Art Project in its latest expansion.

The new Art Project enables users to browse content through a number of categories, while Google+ and video hangouts are integrated to create more engaging personal galleries.

Meanwhile, the enhanced My Gallery feature will permit users to choose any of the 30,000 works and build their own personalised galleries, which can then be shared.

Amit Sood, head of Art Project for Google, said: "The Art Project is going global, thanks to our new partners from around the entire world.

"It's no longer just about the Indian student wanting to visit Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It is now also about the American student wanting to visit the National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi."

Details: www.google.com