"Cinecitt Campus", an artists' academy inside Rome's film studios Cinecitt, was presented to the public last week by city mayor Walter Veltroni, television personality Maurizio Costanzo and Cinecitt enterprises.

Inspired by the Actors Studio in New York, the academy will offer courses in music, theatre, cinema, television and dance to 20 students in each discipline. The students will be chosen at auditions to be held from the beginning of March, and the courses will be free for those selected. The campus has two music rooms, a cinema, a 400-seat television studio and the use of the adjoining gardens in Via Lamaro for outdoor performances.

The campus will also be open to the paying public, who will be able to observe lessons, participate in television recording sessions, visit film sets and watch rehearsals. Daily, monthly and seasonal ticket prices have yet to be decided, but the yearly ticket costs 576, or 970 for those wishing to see the biggest names in show business. Some open-air events will be free.

The campus is open daily 10.00-21.00. For information see www.cinecittacampus.it.