During the 2013 Performing Arts Exchange conference in Nashville, South Arts announced Ivan Sygoda would receive its Mary Beth Treen Award. The Mary Beth Treen award is presented annually during the Performing Arts Exchange to a respected member of the performing arts presenting and touring community. The award is named for Mary Beth Treen, now retired from Mary Beth Treen Artists Management, for her contributions to the performing arts presenting and touring field. For many years, Mary Beth served as a mentor for students, artists, managers, presenters, and others who are engaged in the presentation of the performing arts. Citing that Ivan is considered a foremost leader in the field of presenting and touring dance, South Arts honored Ivan as he moved from Director of Pentacle to Founding Director. Ivan received the award in front of an audience of arts professionals gathered in the Tennessee Performing Arts Center.

During the award ceremony, Mary Beth described Ivan as “a very-well-respected, honorable, gentleman who made me feel welcome. He would come to my booth on move-in days and dance me down the aisles and make me laugh and feel like I belonged. I came to realize how much that friendly gesture meant to me.” Ivan’s welcoming nature inspired Mary Beth to champion a mentoring program for new participants at the Performing Arts Exchange and the other regional and national presenting/touring conferences. “The performing arts are bigger and more diverse than any one of us can encompass,” explained Ivan as he received the award. “Our differences do not divide us. They unite us on a deeper level. Therein lies our strength as a community and as an industry.”