With the "Emerging Artist Award” presented by DaimlerChrysler Financial Services for the first time, a global network of promoting contemporary art and culture is being completed. In the early 1990s, DaimlerChrysler Japan launched the Art Scope Award, annually enabling a young Japanese artist to spend a three-month study visit to Europe; this is followed in each case by an exhibition in Tokyo and the acquisition of works from the artist. The review showed that with the 12 award winners to date young talents had been promoted who represent significant aspects of contemporary art in Japan today.

In 1999, Prof. Schrempp launched the DaimlerChrysler Award for South African Culture. This distinction has since been awarded in different disciplines – painting, sculpture, dance, poetry, photography and choreography – and it has been recognized and honored as currently the most significant cultural promotion award in South Africa. All award winners have also been introduced at the DaimlerChrysler Contemporary in Haus Huth in recent years.

With the DaimlerChrysler art collection this commitment was supported with numerous acquisitions for the collection. In September this year, the museum of the city of Sindelfingen will focus on this part of the collection in a large exhibition entitled “Outside Europe”, that is on contemporary art from Asia, India, South Africa and the USA.

Since the early 1990s, the collection has been extended by the addition of contemporary American art to a growing extent. The 100 works by 40 artists from three generations of contemporary American art are meanwhile ranking high in the DaimlerChrysler Collection. With the "Emerging Artist Award” this commitment on the part on the Art Department is now linking up with present-day art, with the forthcoming and developing art in the USA.

And the fact that the young artists from Cranbrook are introduced on Potsdamer Platz highlights two aspects. First of all, after exhibitions of Japanese and South African art, this signalizes continuity in being culturally active in Berlin – a city that is perceived as one of the motors of contemporary cultural developments. Secondly, the greatest possible service is done to the young artists themselves – being able to live, work and exhibit their works in Berlin will open up new horizons and development opportunities for them.