It's a London Thing No.37: Acts of Kindness – An Art on the Underground Project

It’s a London Thing is our Wednesday series in which we turn the spotlight on a unique aspect of London – perhaps a curious shop, sometimes an eccentric restaurant, a hidden place, book or oddity. The subject matter will be different every week. The running theme, however, will remain constant: you have to come to London to enjoy it. It’s A London Thing.

Art is all around us on the London Underground. From Harry Beck’s tube map to the varied “tartans” of the upholstery on the seats of the trains. It’s art that we take for granted.
That’s where people at Art on the Underground come in. Their remit is to bring art leaping to our attention as we travel from A to B on our Underground network.

Their current project is called Acts of Kindness and they’re looking for Londoners – and visitors, of course – who travel on the Central Line to join in with artist Michael Landy to create a picture of a somewhat neglected side of London life.
From 18 June Acts of Kindness invites users of the Underground, as well as Central line staff, to share stories of kindness that they have witnessed or been part of while travelling by Tube or on duty.
Passengers should look out for posters across the Tube network or go to tfl.gov.uk/art to submit their stories.
We reported our own London Underground act of kindness – in that case at East Finchley on the Northern Line – a few weeks ago in this slot. You can read the story again HERE.
Art on the Underground. It’s a London Thing.