A website featuring the latest designs and research into glass was launched yesterday by a North-East university.

Gateway to Glass, unveiled at the University of Sunderland, contains galleries of British and international artists' work, as well as information on global glass practice. It also includes curated exhibitions, research papers, education resources, techniques and a bulletin board.

Site visitors will be able to see the diverse creative approaches used by leading artists and designers working in hot glass, kiln glass and architectural glass.

There will also be a series of virtual exhibitions by some of the world's leading artists, and most exhibitions will be exclusive to the site.

The university's head of glass and ceramics, Peter Davies, said: "The idea for the website came from glass artists who wanted virtual access to contemporary practices."

It is funded by the university and the New Opportunities Fund, with support from the National Glass Centre, in Sunderland.

* The site can be visited at www.gatewaytoglass.org