Google Art Project, Phase 2 unveiled at the Art Institute of Chicago

Art fanatics around the world rejoiced today as Google unveiled Phase 2 of the Google Art Project this morning at the Art Institute of Chicago. (View the company's "behind the scenes" look at the project above.) Learn more after the jump.Google now partners with 151 institutions in 40 countries to bring approximately 32,000 artworks to (virtual) life, neatly organized by artist, medium and collection. At this morning's press conference, Google president Margo Georgiadis stressed that the Art Project is really about accessibility and bringing art from all over the world to ordinary people.

The site enables users to virtually "walk through" various institutions, including the Art Institute, which allowed 155 artworks by 125 artists to be photographed. Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who attended the press conference, noted Google Art Project's value as an educational tool. He voiced his support for Google's involvement in local Chicago schools—and emphasized the importance of art education, adding that he hopes the site won't eliminate the need for museum field trips.

View the Art Institute's collection on Google Art Project here.