More than 80 of London’s leading contemporary galleries are joining forces this summer for a “celebration” of the capital’s art scene.

The three-day London Gallery Weekend is set to become an annual event after it starts on June 4 with a programme of talks, studio visits, children’s events and late openings focusing on venues in different parts of the city.

The idea is inspired by how the capital’s galleries co-operated during the pandemic to keep their businesses afloat when viewings and launches suddenly became off-limits or severely restricted.

Jeremy Epstein, who co-founded the Edel Assanti gallery in Fitzrovia, said: “It has been inspiring to see our community pool resources and expertise to create an annual moment of celebration of London’s diverse gallery landscape. I am excited to see a programme of engaging exhibitions and events unfolding across the city that will speak to both a local and international audience, emphasising the cultural contribution of London’s galleries”.

Commercial galleries have been hit by lockdown though they are expected to reopen on April 12 – more than a month before major public galleries and museums.

Stefan Ratibor, the director of the Gagosian Gallery, which has shown work by artists from Man Ray to Cy Twombly, said the event was “an investment in the future of London art market”.

He added: “This can never be just about the short term and we are very excited to share in this new collaborative approach that has evolved among galleries in London, an international arts centre that continues to go from strenght to strenght”.