Art Stop Monti launches at Rome's Metro Cavour.

Rome is to decorate its metro stations with contemporary art works following the launch of a design competition open to artists under the age of 30.

Rome mayor Virginia Raggi announced the initiative on 6 April at the Metro B Cavour station with the unveiling of the newly-restyled "Art Stop Monti", the first station to benefit from the plan to cheer up the city's metro network.

Proposals can be submitted until 31 May when 12 artists will be short-listed by a jury, following which six winners will be chosen through an open vote on the project's Facebook page.

Art Stop Monti is being undertaken by city authorities with the collaboration of NUfactory, the Rome-based creative association behind the annual Outdoor Festival.

The Monti station will also be home to the site-specific work #IntheMoodForLoveRome by street artist Rub Kandy until the installation of the six rotating winning entries.

During the project's launch Mayor Raggi was heckled by local residents protesting against the city's controversial proposal to pedestrianise the Monti neighbourhood.

For full details of Art Stop Monti project see website.