[swores]

If the museum were to argue that it is more in students' interest to see a poster explaining the importance of loaning something back to the country it came from (along with either a photo, or for anything where it's feasible even a real-looking replica), is there any chance they would actually get in trouble - beyond some negative op eds being written in the press?

Considering the law is a) interpreted by humans, and b) only something that matters if somebody both tries to enforce it and succeeds, I still feel they could do this despite what you point out. But I'm not at all an expert either on the subject of artifices like these or on the related legal issues, so you may well be right that it would cause them trouble if they followed my plan.

[PaulRobinson]

Yes, because the act says that isn't an acceptable disposal.

[swores]

I'm talking about calling it a loan, not officially getting rid of it. Who would take them to court to argue that it's actually a disposal rather than a loan?