Yakima Arts Commission signs up to staff Yakima Valley Tourism booth at farmers market; suggests QR code and display photos

Members of the Yakima Arts Commission agreed at their June 5 meeting to staff the Yakima Valley Tourism booth at the downtown farmers market on Sundays through the market season and to circulate a sign-up sheet for volunteers.

Santiago E. Tuarte, commission chair, explained that tourism organizers set up a booth each Sunday and supply brochures and materials; volunteers are asked simply to staff the table, hand out information and answer basic questions. Several commissioners and community members said the booth is an easy way to reach visitors and locals and urged adding visuals or a QR code linking to the city’s map of utility-box and trash-can artworks.

Commissioners asked staff to compile photos of installed pieces and to build a QR code that would link visitors directly to the city’s map or the commission’s online art bank. The commission also discussed pairing with other creative organizations when staffing the booth; earlier seasons paired several local arts groups and venues.

The commission will circulate the volunteer schedule by email and keep a shared sign-up to avoid double-booking dates. The booth runs weekly from June through the close of the farmers market in October and is organized by Yakima Valley Tourism; commissioners said it requires minimal setup and that tourism staff handle materials and teardown.