THE GUARDIAN OUTSTANDING Local Discovery Awards turn sweet 16 this year, which means they're old enough – and young enough – to wreak exactly the kind of imaginative havoc this country needs after Nov. 2. For proof of ID, look at the discoveries forged by the 2004 Goldies winners. They've crafted gorgeous songs and made a big fucking noise. They've crossed hip-hop's gender divide and expanded its artistic breadth. They've turned protest speech into poetry and the stage into a bridge between cultures. They've used film to capture the beauty of nature and uncover the horror of its destruction. They've used paint to create fantastic other worlds and discover the magic in this one. Lifetime achievement awardee Bruce Conner has compressed the achievements of many lifetimes and many artists into one.

This year has been dominated by a marathon lead-up to the day before this issue hits the streets. In the aftermath – whatever the outcome – the individuals showcased on these pages provide a variety of terrific paths to follow, and to travel beyond. Art is a realm outside of governmental tyranny – a place to escape it, and an ideal space from which to attack it. The Goldies awardees prove this. We hope you'll join us in celebrating their amazing work.

Dance

Film

Music

Performance

Spoken word

Theater

Visual art

Lifetime achievement

Bruce Conner

Portraits by Saul Bromberger and Sandra Hoover Photography