Yes, there probably should have been a single place for such things.  Thanks for bringing this to our attention.  I have created a Board under the "Fractal Art" forum that is called "Competitions and Contests" http://www.fractalforums.com/index.php?board=89.0 .


Yes, I got this email today as well.  And have received similar ones from them in the past.  As to the legitimacy of this particular "international exhibition of digital art", I can not say.  I do know that the Domain Name being used is registered as follows:

   Steven Churchill (steven@animationtrip.com)
   Phone:  +1.866-434-0212
   Fax:  +1.866-434-0211
   2316 Delaware Avenue, Suite #266
   Buffalo, NY 14216-2687
   US

Interesting that the show is in San Diego, California but the person doing the emailing is in New York.
 

This sounds at best a bad idea, and at worse a scam.

I too found the WHOIS information for the domain, it might or might not have been them that contacted you.  It's a little sad that they ask for money upfront.

The Art of Digital show is totally legitimate. Richard Taylor, who is also part of it, is the guy that did the effects for the movie Tron and has been in the CG industry since it began. The competition is over however. I was actually at the Art of Digital gallery a few days ago in downtown San Diego and Taylor gave a 2 hour speech. Tomorrow will be the last day the gallery is open.
http://www.artofdigitalshow.com/