Over 2,000 members have pre-registered for free entrance to one of Malta's first ever digital media art and technology events.

Creativity and communications will be celebrated at the Digital Arts Expo 2008 at the Hilton Conference Centre between July 2 and 6.

The focus is on the possibilities digital technology opens for communications agencies, audio visual production, musicians, architects, even artists and film directors. The tools enabling people to create exciting forms of communication and challenge ­artistic horizons, will all be there.

Digital Arts Expo 2008 is organised by ICA Ltd, with Allied Newspapers as one of the main partners and exhibitor. The event is supported by the Ministry for Investment, Industry and IT and a whole range of other organisations which recognise the value and potential of digital creativity.

All players in the digital media industry, including advertising agencies, printers, photographers, graphic designers, art directors, audio visual producers, music composers, broadcasting stations, Web and software developers, game developers, recruitment agencies, and semi-professional artists should attend.

The focus is not solely on the commercial. International leaders in the various fields will be leading some of the sessions on areas from digital photography techniques to Web security, from page layout to Web scripting and much more.

Short film features will be a part of the event, with productions from some of the best local and foreign directors and producers showing the cream of their creations.

The website www.digitalartsexpo.com is constantly updated with information about the exhibitors, workshops and the people involved. With regularly updated articles on technique and practice, as well as digitally created material, it is a valuable resource in its own right. Log on to www.digitalartsexpo.com for free entrance.