Library Arts Center Hosts 15th Annual PEEPS Diorama Contest in Newport

Tiny marshmallow figures cast as heroes, villains, and everything in between have filled the Library Arts Center gallery in Newport for the past two weeks, and the public has one day left to see them. The center's 15th annual PEEPS Diorama Contest runs through April 9, with gallery hours still available for those who want to view the entries and cast a People's Choice vote before the exhibition closes.

The contest drew entries from individuals, families, classroom groups, and businesses across Sullivan County, all competing across five categories: Adult, Family/Group, Children 12 and under, Teen (ages 13 to 17), and Group/Business. Judging focused on originality, creative use of PEEPS marshmallow characters, and overall design. Top prizes include a "Best in PEEPS" grand prize alongside the community-voted People's Choice award.

Local coverage noted the entries ranged into "dark and comedic" territory, with participants riffing on current events, history, and pop culture through the medium of shoebox dioramas and candy figures. That willingness to go unexpected places is a recurring feature of the contest and a large part of what has sustained its appeal across 15 editions.

The Library Arts Center opened this year's event with a Peeps Party preview around March 27 to 30 before the full exhibition went public starting March 28. Participation is free, a deliberate choice that has kept the contest accessible to schools and community organizations that might not otherwise walk through a gallery door.

That foot traffic carries weight beyond the arts center itself. The annual PEEPS exhibition draws visitors into downtown Newport during the spring shoulder season, providing a boost to nearby cafes and shops at a time when seasonal activity is still picking up.

Fifteen consecutive years of diorama contests reflect a programming approach at the Library Arts Center that has made the Newport gallery a consistent anchor on Sullivan County's community arts calendar.