What would the world look like without the Maidstone and Rochester Colleges of Art?

It's a philosophical question with an infinite number of answers, which would have kept art students waffling away into the small hours at the Maidstone college's legendary Friday night parties.

But with those parties now a distant memory, the short and slightly less philosophical answer is the world would look a lot different indeed.

Without the college to nurture their talents, the world might never have seen the works of Tracey Emin, the fashion of Karen Millen or Zandra Rhodes, and millions of children might never have searched Martin Handford's "Where's Wally" books or been inspired by the skills of Tony Hart.

Fans of Yes and other prog rock giants would remember albums with artwork penned by another hand than the great Roger Dean's, while someone other than Bob Holness might have gone onto present TV's Blockbusters.

A world in which Bob Holness was never on Blockbusters? It doesn't bear thinking about.

It all began back in 1867, when the Maidstone College of Art was founded in the town centre, where it remained for more than 100 years before moving to Oakwood Park in 1969.

The college went onto become part of the Kent Institute of Art and Design (KIAD) in 1987, together with Rochester and Canterbury's art colleges, and subsequently evolved into the University for the Creative Arts (UCA).

But in July 2014, art students downed their brushes for the last time at the site, when it was purchased by neighbouring MidKent College.

That might be a sad end to Maidstone's great artistic legacy, but the influence of the college remains, and Tracey Emin herself - the most globally renowned of the college's graduates - has acknowledged its importance.

Asked in 1995 "Which person do you think has had the greatest influence on your life?" She replied, "It's not a person really. It was more a time, going to Maidstone College of Art, hanging around with Billy Childish, living by the River Medway".

Having studied printing at Rochester and Maidstone in the 80s, Emin graduated with a first class degree in Printmaking, and went onto study at the Royal College of Art. It was also at Maidstone that she encountered Roberto Navikas, a name which was later to feature prominently in her famous "tent" - also known as Everyone I Have Ever Slept With 1963–1995 - one of the works that set her on the course to global recognition, and perhaps a forerunner to her famous, or infamous, My Bed.

The latter would see Emin shortlisted for the Turner Prize and elevated to a whole new level of international renown; but you don't have to be wild and radical to find success after leaving Maidstone College of Art...

Rather than put his blood-stained bed on display, Tony Hart simply drew a fish on a napkin.

That's the simplified version of the story at least.
The Maidstone-born artist initially struggled after graduating from Maidstone College of Art, and once recalled living in his brother's "ghastly" basement flat in London, doing the occasional mural painting for restaurants in exchange for a free meal.

But it was thanks to his brother Michael, an aspiring actor, that Tony met a TV producer who needed an artist who could draw quickly - impressing him by drawing a fish lying on the bottom of the sea with bubbles coming from its mouth, on a serviette.

The fish landed him the job as resident artist on the Saturday Special programme, and Tony went onto enjoy a long running TV career, presenting numerous art shows including Take Hart and Hartbeat, and creating the the original design for the Blue Peter badge on the way.

Meanwhile other talents as successful and diverse as Marton Handford and Karen Millen - who studied at the Rochester campus - are surely testament to the breadth of teaching that was available to students.

But some didn't even need artistic skills at all to make a mark on the world.

South African born Bob Holness returned to the land of his birth to work for a printing company, but chucked in the day job to join a repertory theatre.

A hugely successful radio and TV career followed, and Holness is now etched in the collective consciousness of Britain as the smooth genial host of ITV quiz show Blockbusters.

That job might not have required the same skills as Emin or Hart, but would it be going to far to say something of Holness' character and easy demeanour might have been partly honed in the corridors of Maidstone's art college?

West Malling-based filmmaker Derek Boyes studied at Rochester but had friends at the Maidstone college, and says it was a positive influence on the town as a whole.

Having grown up in Maidstone, he said he was devastated when he found out it had closed.

"It was the cultural heart of Maidstone," he said. "There’s nothing left in Maidstone now that promotes art and creative expression. It was to Maidstone, what The Tate is in Margate.

"It was the only creative and culturally diverse establishment in Maidstone and a great piece of 60's architecture. It was also where all the coolest kids hung out.

"Apart from the many evenings spent there in the early 90's at student union parties where my two Art Foundation pals Paul Ladd and Tony Carr (Andrea Hooper) 'got me in', in more recent years it attracted a flux of Scandinavian students who frequently filled the pubs and clubs of Maidstone with some well needed culture and refreshing young creative blood.

"Without many of their friendships I would have had a pretty lonely and depressing existence living back in Maidstone.

Derek has also backed calls to save the Rochester campus from a similar fate - with UCA now planning to close it next year.

"When we lost Maidstone Art College, we lost all those crazy creative ultra-hip students that brought a bit of class and culture to an otherwise dreary and forgettable town," he added. "Don't let this happen to Rochester Art College too!"

A statement from UCA said the university was proud of its alumni, and that their legacy would continue, despite the planned closure.

It added: "At UCA we are transforming what we do so that we can shape the future of creativity across the world and support our students to develop the creative talents that will set them up for their future career.

"As part of this process, we have taken the difficult decision to withdraw from Rochester in 2023 and to invest in creating Centres of Creativity at our three remaining campuses in Kent and Surrey.

"We are, and always will be, proud of all our students, alumni and staff who have cultivated their creativity at Rochester, people like Tracey Emin, Tony Hart, and Zandra Rhodes. It’s people who make a university and they will always be part of UCA – no matter where our buildings are based.

"As we shape the future of creativity, UCA remains committed to supporting communities across Kent and beyond to harness their creative talents."

UCA says it will retain links to Maidstone through its TV studios, where students "continue to have the unique opportunity to study television production in the UK's largest independent TV studio."
It adds: "In this professional environment, and using our specialist facilities, students will work on high-profile television shows and network with leading industry professionals."