Can the pres of our art group sign a rental agreement without being
Having personal liability

Yes and no, first they should note on the signing that it is as and for the art group.

But then is the art group a corporation, how is it set up to protect its members from personal liablit

It's not a corp.. we're in the process of going non-profit.. I don't think there's anything in the bylaws to protect its members from liability.

We're not a corp. we're in the process of going non-profit.. I don't think there's anything in the bylaws
About member liability.

If you're not a corp, an llc or llp then whoever signs the lease is going to be personally liable.

See if the landlord will allow a clause in the lease that says the tenant can assign the lease at a later date to a corp to be formed and be released from all personal liability.